davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
LITTLE EDITH'S
 VALENTINE.

little ones were getting along with their feast, tomorrow is St. Valentines Day. Each of you may tell me just what you would like for valentine. Then I'll send wire to good St. Valentine and ask him to grant your wish"
 "Oh, won't that be just lots of fun:'' cried Myrtle. "Oh, it will be jus lovely!' agreed Edith. But Georgie. being of a more serious mind, asked some questions Say, Mrs. Downs,'' he began. where does St. Valentine live? In the clonds?"
 "Oh, mustn't tell, smiled Mrs. Downs. Like Santa Claus, the good St. Valentine has a secret place in which he abides Were the little folk to learn his address, they'd bothdo him all the year round, wanting to go to visit his factory where valentines are made. So, only the older folks-like the papas and the mammas and the big sisters and big brothers, and uncles and aunts-know. |" fs Well, I'd like a. a. candy valen- iitine." cried Myrtle. .'I saw jus a lovely one down in the window of MT. Jink's shop. It was a great big candy heart wifi something nice on it--a verse fke's in my second reader. An,s it. is in the loveliest box!-wreaths of roses on the lid!"
 Well. we'll have to wire your selection to St. Valentine. said Mrs. Downs. ~And now. Georgie. what would you likeY' F Georgie was slow fin making up his mind. He wanted SO many things-bnt they did not come in the shape of valen tines So he rummaged about in his sancy for something that might be acceptable. At last he said: "I'd like n kite. Do you suppose St. Valentine might have n valentine-kite?"
 But it's not the season for flying
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

factory. And--that would be the next best thing to brother, wouldn't it?''
 ''Oh, if 1t lived close by" cried Edith. ''Then it would be almost like sure enough baby brother. for I'd go to see 1t five or twenty times n day"
 Well, suppose Aunt Elizabeth were to nnd baby boy7 Would that be all rightT' asked Mrs. Downs. hy
 ''Oh, yes, mamma cried Edith, jump ing up and down and capping her hands. Aunt Elizabeth lives. jus 'cross the street, an I could go there to play with the baby boy every minute. That would be next bes' thing to brother, mamma. :"
 Then we'll see about 1t. Now, l shall go and send my wires to St. Valentine. So, have nice time, dear little ones. George and Myrtle, you have an hour to remain. Your mamma said to send you home at 4 o'clock. It's just 3 now
 So Mrs Downs went down stairs again, and out of the house and across the street to where her husbands sister lived, Edith S Aunt Elizabeth. And she remained there ever and ever so long, and when she came out she was smiling and looking very happy. Then she went to a toy shop close by and bought the great candy heart- the valentine which Myrtle had wished for; and then she bought big kite and a dozen comic valentines to paste all over 1t, for St. Valentine had forgotten to have any valentine kites made in his factory. So Mrs. Downs had to make one herself. Then home she went and in the kitchen she fixed the valentine kite. Then she wrapped U up nicely, so that no one would ever have guessed what waS in the package, and sent It by messenger to Georgie's home with q note to Georgie's mamma. And the box containing the candy heart was also sent along with the kite. with Myrtle's name written across
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

kites,' explained Mrs Downs. When a fine kite for you''
 But I'd like one now-a valentine kite" urged Georgie. "I'd keep it till summer and have. it ready"
 Well we'll see if valentine kite can be procured, dear,'' said Mrs. Downs. "And. now. darling, what do you want?' And Mrs Downs turned to her little Edith. Edith thought for a second Then she said: ''Oh, mamma. want baby brother. Do you suppose one might be gotten from St. valentineY
 Mrs. Downs laughed and laughed. Then she said: "Only Santa Claus deals in babies, detr. You'd better wait till next Christmas So make another wish. Ask for some sort of real valentine.
 But Edith thought and thought till her little forehead puckered and her eyes went half shut with the hard thinking. Still, there was nothing that she wanted half so much us baby brother But. if baby brother was out of the question, she would be obliged to try something else. But before she had made up her mind the housemaid called to Mrs Downs. Please, ma am, somebody wants you on the phone.'' And Mrs Downs hurried out of the playroom and went down stairs to the phone. After little she came back to the playroom and said to Edith, "Now, dearie, have you decided on the sort of valentine you wish for?'
 Edith shook her head. T wanted baby brother. mamma" she said. "l haven't thought of anything else. But I'll try"
 Well. how would boy baby cousin dor asked Mrs. Downs Maybe we might get one of that kind. Brothers are out of the question till Christmas. But cousins might be found in the valentine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

0AA R. md Mrs. Snow and Betty "N and Harry Snow had not been
 living very long. They came
 V into existence just after Christ
 mas. They fell to earth in the shape of snowfakes. and Jack and Marie Wilson put them into form. For days. and days did Jack and Marie work, modelling the Big Shows first, and then the Little Shows. MT. Snow had a tall hat on his head and a corncob pipe in his mouth. He had a very contented express sion on his face. as if saying: T am very fine snow man. I am tall and strong, and the weather doesn't affect me in the least. Now, look at your flesh-and- blood people-see them shiver and shake when n breath of north wind touches them. But I. why. I just stand here in the teeth of the mortimer and smoke my pipe in peace.'
 And beside Mir. Snowman stood Mrs. Snow woman. And she. too wore an ex- pression of contentment on her round face. Very motherly she was, her eyes always on her little daughter, who stood close beside her. Mrs. Snow wore hood modelled after the boods worn in early Colonial days. Marie had fashioned Mrs. Snow like Jack was fashioning Mir. Snow close beside her And together Jack and Marie had fashioned the two Little Shows.
 his sister, and older, too, having been modelled first. He was whole day older than his sister, He was the nerriest looking chap you could imagine. His mouth was spread in smile that wouldn't come off. His eyes were round
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

pose we give the naughty fellow taste of what he is wishing for" she said. Well congregate about his feet and melt him loose from the ground on which he stands so firmly. He'll roll to the road, and then he'll find that there's something else to do other than to wish for things. It will then be up to him to walk away. We'll put him beside the road; he must do the rest"
 "Yes, we'll teach him lesson," laughed the other little sunbeams. And they gathered closely about the feet of Harry Snow and warmed and warmed him till . he began to loosen from the ground v"You want very much to get away from your parents, your sister and your home, don't you?" asked the little ringleader of the sunbeams.
 'Yes, indeed, I do,' replied Master . Harry "I want to go to the big road and from there I'll take an automobile round the world.''
 Very well, we'll loosen you from your present place and then you can run down the hill" So informed one of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
! OurpuZZle Corner x
CHARADE.

 My first is a thing That oft infiicts pain; And coachmen and teachers ~ From its use should refrain. . My second denotes C.. An absence of wealth, And is sometimes applied To very bad health. My third is a document Men, often contest; Though made out by law As last behest. My three put together Make the name of a bird; During spring time and summer Its quaint note is heard.
 PRIMAL ACROsTIC. This acrostlc contains eight words of five letters each. 1.-the words are rightly guessed and written one below another their initial letters will spell the name of a puzzle, The cross words are: 1. A great range of mountains. 2. A time piece. B. Public highways. 4. A large body of water. B. Something worn by men on their feet. 6. That which is carried on between foreign countries :. One who will not work. s. A sweet that nll children enjoy eating.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

the. box.
 And on the morning of St. Valentines Day Myrtle and Georgie were as happy as could be when they came down to breakfast, for there were their longed- for valentines waiting for them. But who can picture the joy of little Edith when on St. Valentines morning her mamma led her across the street to Aunt Eliza beth's and there presented to her the dear est. sweetest, blue-eyed fat boy baby Edith's own little valentine cousin. And Edith just kissed his nose and his toes and said: Hes jus as good as sure enough brother I guess he's better. mamma, for when he cries we don't have to have him roun'. So, he's jus the incest valentine I could have. Thank you, mamma, for him."
 And Aunt Elizabeth from the other room called out: You rre dear little Edith, and I know my precious valentine baby will grow up to love his cousin Edith-the little girl who wished him baro b
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

his whole body put into order again by the artistic Jack. And after Marie and Jack had gone into the house for sup-e per, there was family reunion, and tire Snows-all four of them-were quite happy again
 ''Tve learned a lesson today that I'll never forget" declared Master Harry Snow. "One should never want to go out of his place in the world. was fool But now I am wise"
 Never too wise to learn more and more," observed Papa Snow, removing his corncob pipe for the night and put ting it into his pocket. "One can learn something every day, my son."
 That's so, Papa,"1 agreed Harry. And
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

sunbeams.
 So they kept on warming his feet and pretty soon oyer he -tumbled. head first Then to the great distress of his parents and sister, he began rolling rapidly down the hill. on went one of his arms, broken away by sudden contact with a stump which stood rooted in the yard And then,s just as he was about to tumble. close to the long g-coyeted road, his nose became So flattened that it made his face look comical. And one ear was also badly damaged Oh. how those ter ribe accidents did hurt himl He shed real tears, and many of them.
 At last, after many injuries, Harry Snow rolled to the edge of the big road. And at the same moment m automobile passed along at high speed. for the snow had melted away from the road and it lay hard and dry beneath the sun As the great car speeded past Harrv ovarhcnrd a ladv ealing out "oh.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

~ HERE were at least a hundred valentines catered about in a big
 show window But of only a few - will we tell you, for so many or
 sthem spent their days in sleep Upd never held hope or a. wish. But there were six of those valentines that had real character-real souls, some might say. {But of course, that could not be said truthfully. For such things as val entines cannot have soulsD.
 There was one valentine in particular that everybody stopped to look at and to admire-that Is, everybody who chanced to pass by that particular show window.
 It was pink and blue valentine in color and had dainty girl on 1t. She was encircled in wreath of roses. Her face was smiling and beautiful. Many little boys admired her and wished to purchase her to send to some dear little sweetheart. And beneath the picture on the card was a verse, all in rhyme, and very, very delightful. It told of boys deep love and admiration for his sweet heart. The name we shall give to this particular little lady-love valentine Is Daisy.
 Then there was another valentine, one of cupid in basket of pansics. Ills wings were very tiny and apparently he had not yet learned to fly. But be was real little dear, his plump cheeks as pink as pink and his eyes as ablue as blue. And he too was much admired by the passers-by. We will designate him as Cupid for no oter name would it him.
 Then close beside Cupid was the dear est valentine holding two persons, youth of about 18 and maiden of about 10. The youth was tying a lovers knot around the shoulders of the maiden, who was smiling and blushing. They were valentines" evidently. They shall De known In this story as Jack and June
 And another, the fourth of our chosen valentines was a flock of sheep being tended by dear little shepherdess In dainty froek and broad-brimmed sun hat. She carried shepherdess' staff In her dainty hands. A prince. In royal purple, was in the background, looking at her from behind tall tree.
 The fifth in number of our chosen val entines was a beautiful princess In castle She was bending from window which opened upon a balcony, and be- meath the window softly picking his gui- tar, stood handsome suitor.
 The last of the group of selects was a funny fellow, circus cloxn. He was grinning from ear to ear, and. cutting up all sorts of capers. From his mouth came these words (printed on the ,card of course). Come, my pretty Miss. and be my valentine"
 This valentine shall be called The Clown.
 And all these valentines were very good friends. and each night, after the shop was closed and the lights were out. they made right merry. The Clown would all ways make the others laugh. Maid Mary would tell them stories of ye olden time; the Princess would speak of love and war and Daisy would sing of birds and flowers Little Cupid told of his realm in the clouds. where he dwelt
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12


 and full of mischief. He seemed on the outlook for mischief all the time, and gave his father some uneasiness. The older Snow feared the young one migh< be rash and try to run away from home. Betty Snow was a demure little maio. Her face was like peach, peeping from under hood which was made like her mothers. She had a big doll in her arms-a doll of snow. like herself. Ana Dolly was as sweet as peach also. Marie had taken pains that Betty should have a doll just as nice as her own big wax doll which Santa had given her at Christmas time.
 And so tho Snow family was very fine, happy family. They stood Oh pretty hillside, or sloping lawn, rather The wide lawn surrounded the house In which Jack and Marie lived and dropped away to big country road which was bordered on each side by tall, leafiess trees. t But one fine February day little Harry Snow became discontented on the hillside. standing so steadfastly beside his father.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

The clown danced as he had
 never danced before.
 broken into. The culprit was none other than a fine, haired boy of IA. He stood for a long time in front of the window. ndmiring Daisy At last he walked into the shop and purchased her. 0h how he did smile as he penned an address on the large envelope into which his newly bought valentine was placed by the shopkeeper. And after the address was done-it was Miss Grace Smith, he put stamp on the corner of the envelope and dropped it into mail box. He was sending this little love token tn his "best girl" as all his chums jokingly called his sweetheart, Oracle Smith.
 That night the valentine party was only five but they were gay and declared that they must make the most of their short time together. And the Clown danced as he had never danced before. And they all laughed as they had not laughed ill many days. for they felt that on the morrow another-maybe two of them would be carried away.
 And so 1t happened. Early on the fol lowing morning Jack and June were carried from the window and put into d
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

from this day I-shall try to learn some- thing every day that 1 remain In life"
 '.Yes, for tomorrow we melt, said Mamma Snow, in serious tone.
 But we never die," explained Papa Snow We melt and run off the hill- side Into the brook and from there we run into the mighty river hundreds of miles away. And on the bosom of the river we go to the sea-unless we stop to enrich some field by the way. dears."
 And all the other Shows said. Yes indeed we have"
 And then the stars came out and they fell into a deep slumber.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

with fairies. Jack and June spoke of woods and meadows and running brooks, and of the Summer Boy and the Summer Girl and all of the birds and butter flies that make the country so delightful.
 And you cannot imagine happier time than was enjoyed by our six valentines each night In fact. they never closed their eyes to sleep till long after mid night. And even then they felt sorry 10 say goodnight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
BAcprPrs FROM ENGLAND.

~ HERE is no question but that bag pipes originated in England. Recent
 - Investigations have disclosed the fact that these peculiar musical instruments were well known in England before even the Scots heard of tho. although they are always associated with the canny ones. The unpopularlty of the pipes in England is claimed to have been more a matter of cultivation than natural anti. pathy, as 1t is claimed that only a musical ear Is annoyed by the music of the bAgpipe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
ZIGZAG PUZZLE.

This zigzag contains seven words of four letters each If the words are right ly guessed and written one below an- other their zigzag letters, beginning with the upper left-hand letter and ending witfis the lower left-hand letter, will spell most interesting study. The cross. words are: 1. An important part of every living creature. 2. A distance. 5. A doubled-up hand. 4. To be found IF stovepipes or chimneys. 5. To have very little or none of this worlds goods. 6. A food prepared from grain for animals, z. A name often applied to the Christ mas -seaeou.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

D ED-CHEEKED TOMMY 1A stood in line, He was waiting to buy valen-
 tine. : A bright new penny he held in his $ hand, And he was the happiest kid in
 the land. And as he looked the comic things
 OCT An aged woman peered in through
 the door; She asked in trembling tones for
 mite To help buy a shelter through the e cold night. Tommy's choice of valentines in
 the store Had been of a rich man, wanting
 more; A fat-faced millionaire with red
 nose, Dressed in gay-colored dollar marked clothes. He took the valentine, held it up, But his eyes wandered back to the
 beggar's cup. He faltered, light came into his
 eyes -f He put back the card, to the
 clerks surprise; In the beggar's cup went the
 penny fne,S And he said, Here, Lady, is my
 valentine"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12
COLLECTION or INSECTS.

~ HE University of Kansas has col
 lection of insects valued at fifty - thousand dollars. The specimens are of American insects, except for a fair for eign collection which has been built up by the exchanges of the collectors. This work was done during the summer vacn. tions by the students of the college. The collection Is especially useful, as 1t shows the harmful insects and the ways In which they rgsage the crops.
 There are 450 manufactories of artincal flowers. leaves, plants and fruits in the district of Dresden. The largest of the manufactories employ from 300 to 1000 workmen and the total number of persons engaged In the trade Is estimated at 10000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-12

abOvee
 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLES
 LETTER ENIGMA: Phonogroph.
 BEHEADINGS AND. CURTAILfNGS I. Ecdnt-cdn. g. Sting-tin. g. Stone-ton !. Etacks-tack.
 ZfGZAG PUZZLE: Webster. Gross. soords---f. Wind. 2. Week. g. Debt l. Furs. s. Hute. G. Lean. :. Rake.
 REBUS: When snop Is on the ground ft ts Ntce to 90 sleighing.
The Springfield herald., 1911-09-08
FOREIGN.

A campaign which has for its pur-
pose a reduction of the high prices of
food has started in Paris.
The political situation in Portugal
is taking serious turn. The Repub-
lican party is completely divided
Lieteuant Zolotnehin. a Russian mil
ita:y aviator. fell with his aeroplaIe
while making flight at St. Peters
burg and was killed.
From all parts of Canada reports
show the intensity OF the election
struggle which is now under full head
way, and they reflect also the position
and progress of the various elements
on the main issue, reciprocity between
Canada and the United States.
With no dissenting voice, Francisco
l. Madero was nominated by the Pro
sssive party for president of Mex
'o Francisco Vasquez Gomez, his
old running made and ertswhile agen.
of the revolution at Washington. was
grilled by partisians of three other
candidates for the vice presidency
The Springfield herald., 1911-09-08
HANDS WOULD CRACK OPEN

about two months ago my hands
started to crack open and bleed. the
skin would scale of, and the good
flesh would burn and itch dreadfully.
When my hands first started to get
sore, there were small blisters like wa
ter blisters which formed. They
itched dreadfully, 1t just seemed as
though could tear the skin all of.
would scratch them and the skin would
peel of. and the flesh would be all
red and crack open and bleed. 1t wor-
rled me very much. as l had never
had anything the matter with my skin.
was so afraid would have to give
up my employment.
MY doctor said he didn't think it
would amount to anything. But 1t kept
getting worse. One day saw piece
In one Of the papers about lady who
had the same trouble with her hands.
She had used Cuticura Soap and Oint-
ment and was cured. l decided to try
them, and my hands were all healed
before had used one cake OF Cuti-
cura Ointment. / am truly thankful
for the good results from the .Cuticura
Soap and Ointment, for thanks to them
l was cured, and did not have to lose
day from work. have had no re-
turn Of the skin trouble" (Signed)
Mrs. Mary E. Breig. 2522 Brown
Street. Philadelphia. Pa. Jan. 10, 1911.
Although Cuticura Soap and Oint-
ment are sold everywhere a sample
OF each. with 32-page book, will be
mailed free on application to "Cuti-
cura," Dept. 6 K. Boston.
The Springfield herald., 1911-09-08
WASHINGTON.

The new battleship authorized by
the last navy act will be of 2S.500 tons
displacement. the biggest in the world.
1t is unequivocally denied that the
United States comtemplates selling
any of its warships to Turkey.
George Won L. Meyer. secretary OF
the United States navy. after visit
of several days in Paris. left for Aus
tria.
General business of the country IS
in good condition, as reflected by the
official report of the American Rail-
way Association.
An order that will eliminate from
the mails absolutely the Red Cross
stamps and the Mcnamara defense
fund stamps. because on their faces
they are called stamps" has been
issued by Postmaster Hitchcock.
1t has developed by the investiga-
tion by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission of the Lehigh Valley railroad
wreck near Manchester. n. Y. in
which more than thirty persons were
killed. that the government is power
less to prosecute the road.
A new six-pounder gun, equipped
with specially adapted high explosive
projectiles and shrapnels shells to de-
molish aeroplanes and balloons in bat
tie, has ben perfected by the United
States army. 1t can be elevated a.
any angle and possesses a maximum
effective range OF seven miles. The
construction of the new rifle has just
been completed at the Rock Island,
ILL.,, arsenal