davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

~ LOSSIE sat beside the window, A looking out into the snowstorm
 that was raging fiercely It was
 New Years Eve, and Flossie
 smiled contentedy as she thought of the morrow, for on New Years Day she was to entertain a party of friends in her own. home. Flossie had been Ill during Christmas week, and had not en- joyed the pleasures of the Christmas festival. So her mother had promised that she should have New Year party if she recovered from her illness in time to endure the excitement and exertion attending one. And the happy anticipa- tion of party helped tremendously to- wards Flossie's recovery, and now. on the eve of New Year, she was feeling in splendid health and spirits and mak- ing many plans for the next day.
 Darling said Mrs. King, Flossie's mother, speaking to Flosse, .I fear the storm may continue over tomorrow. In that event your invited guests cannot brave 1t, md will doubtless phone their regrets. It will be a sore disappoint- ment if your New Year party must be postponed till a later date"
 Flossie's face fell. "Oh, mamma" she cried, wouldn't it be just too bad if the storm should spoil my party? l do be- lieve should cry over it.''
 -On, no, uedrle, you are my brave Ill., tie grille, and such disappointment as the one we anticipate would not cause you to shed tears. You should never al- low yourself to grieve over such trivial things, for there is so much of the serious in life that comes with later years So my little daughter must be happy and cheerful through such things as social disappointments."
 But you know I missed my Christmas, mamma reminded Flossie. And that was very. very disappointing.
 But you did not weep over It." smiled Mrs. King. You said you were very thankful that you were not more seriously i'll and that you would not al- low yourself to fret over being unable to help to celebrate the day of Christ mas
 So the day passed, the storm not abat- ing one whit. but increasing in violence toward nightfall. Mir King came home carly in the afternoon, saying that there was no business to keep him In his ofhce
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

a-gal4e,. a. 4asgots on the morrow, us IS my custom each day, good Dame Green, he replied. 'In the evening uncle and l shall sup at home, as is our wont. after ward saying our prayers and going 10 bed"
 ''Ah, dull day for youth. my son, remarked Dame Green. Come, dress ln your Sunday best and join the young folks who will make merry at my house tomorrow night There is to be apple baking and roasting of chestnuts. Ah' they will be right merry, l can tell you. Will you come. son?'
 Again Andrew shook his head. My uncle would be glad to have me partlcl- pate In the merrymaking on the nlgnt of the New Year, he replied. but l have no jacket fit to wear in company.
 whats wrong with your brown vel yeteen jacket?" asked Dame Green.
 '.Ah, good Dame Green" said Andrew, ..it has become so threadbare that can no longer wear it in company Anu l have no money with which to buy ne" one. No, Dame Green, thanking you TOT your kindness, I shall be obliged to re- main at home with good Uncle Dan. Ahu the truth is l should hate to leave hiin for a whole evening, for between his hours for crying in the streets he rests Al home. and I am with him to chat ana cheer him bit.
 "Why, lad. bring the good uncle wltn you" said Dame Green. Let the olu be merry with the young. His coming to take a bite and a sup With us Will not interfere with his performing hls duties at his appointed hours"
 But again Andrew shook his head. T am sorry, good Dame Green. but neither has my uncle a cloak fit for wearing Ill
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

city, fifteen miles away. During the first day the children had stood the journey very well for the weather was fine They passed the night in an empty store build ing that stood on the outskirt of village. The second day-New Years Eve-was not so pleasant, for a storm had gathered. But they covered the en- tire distance between their nights lodg ing place and the city, and there found shelter In a cellar beneath a laundry
 That night the storm subsided, and on the following day Mir. King located Toney, the fruit seller. And to the delight of Flossie and Nita and Tito the good uncle (for he proved to be a generous-hearted man) was found to have a fruit stand just three blocks from the Kings home. indeed. Mrs. King had often patronized the mice Italian at the stand down the street" and knew him quite well. When she learned that he was the childrens uncle she said: He's a good man and will make our little New Year friends welcome. And I guess he is quite well fixed, too, for he does a thriving busi- ness"
 It proved that uncle Toney was very happy, indeed, to have his dead brothers children as his own, and his wife, nice soul, said "They shall be our bam- binos, for we have none of our own. and Italians - they must have little nes-bambinos-in the house if they would be happy. An, 1t Is a lucky New Year that brings us such lovely bam- binos.. And they shall love us and we shall love them'
 That evening, after all the excitement of the day, Flossie. tired and sleepy, said: Wasn't my party a success. mammaT'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01


 But-the man is not of our story, only inasmuch as it was through his proba- ble avarice that Paddles reached the out-of-doors. And Paddles was so star tied, so surprised, at what he saw and heard that he could not stir step, put crouched in the corner beside the door through which he had slipped to liberty. At the very moment of his gaining the pavement street car was changing past, making q great noise. Paddles had never seen a street car before, and the monster almost frightened him to deatn. He quivered from fear as well as rom cold, for the wind was severe and cut through his fine coat of fur like Knife. Then there were so many strange peo- pie passing to and fro on the pavement and Paddles felt that with every passer- by he would be stepped upon and crushed.
 But there he sat, a deJected picture of fear, shivering in the corner beside the door. And right then and there he made a resoution-a New Year resolu- tion Out he did not know iD-that If he ever got inside that door again he'd go straight to his own place and stay there. Remembrance of his good. con- fortable, purry mother almost brought tears to his eyes. and he wished with all his heart that he was with her, basking in the sunshine. He knew that it was now time for the sun to shine its fullest into the small world where he had passed his life.
 Towards noon the pedestrians became fewer, and by 2 o'clock only an occa- with rntphfv along the pavement. It was the hour for the New Year dinner in the family home. and everywhere throughout the great city people were entertaining or be- inc entertained. So Paddles saw fewer ncrsons on the street. But the street oars came with a persistent regularity which kept Paddles in state of con- stant dread.
 About o'clock, and when Paddles was m the verge of freezing, for his poor naws were numb from cold, terrible thing happened. A dog came nosing along the sidewalk. man, carrying a whip and a strap, was several paces behind the animal thus leaving him free to commit All sorts of depredations before a re- straining hand could be outstretched. The dog saw Paddles at the very moment that Paddles saw him. Paddles knew through instinct that the horrible, ierce-eyed creature was his natural enemy. The dog snarled, showing two rows of very large. sharp teeth. Paddles fuzzed his tail. the first time he had ever felt the necessity of doing such thing. Then he spat in self-defense at the ferocious dog who had approached 10 within a foot of him. Would he escape alive? So Paddles asked himself The dogs master had stopped a few doors away to examine something in shop window, and there is no telling what might have happened to the terrified Paddles had not the great door beside which he was crouched opened at that very moment. For Paddles the opening was most opportune. He darted past the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01
THE eJACNET AND THE FAIRY.

company. We would be but sorry sights among the we'll dressed folk on New Years night"
 "Ah, have 1t as you will. son." said Dame Green. "But in my mind one should think less of his coat and more of his fun on festive time like this. But however 1t be, lad, you are fine youth, and maybe some day Fortune will pay you special visit, and leave you new coat of fine texture and gay color. Fare thee well lad" After Dame Green had departed Andrew sat thinking for a minute. He would love to attend the merry making at the house of Dame Green on the following evening, and it made Tim sad to know that lone liness would be his uncle's and his own lot on New Year. Then he said aloud: i: Maybe by alarming carefully our jacket and cloak. Uncle and I will be present. able" And he ran to the clothes press and took from the pegs his uncle's cloak of dingy, faded blue cloth, and his own jacket of brown velveteen, both much worn and threadbare Looking them over, he shook his head. NO, they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

will be rich enough to give your old uncle a holiday tomorrow-and for longer If he desires it." Then. before Andrew could make reply, the fairy prince had gone out through the door, and as Andrew was looking out into the darkness after him good Uncle Dan came stepping blithely in.
 Son." said Uncle Dan, something strange has happened to me. Just as I stepped upon our own path my old age and ill-health seemed to drop from me. Why, I feel like a young man. Ah, had we nice clothes and some money we'd go to Dame Greens big New Year party tomorrow night and make merry. It is good to be healthy and young and to mix with your fellows"
 But look, unclel" and Andrew held up a jacket of richest velvet This Is mine. And see thisi'-And he re- moved from one of the jacket pockets a purse filled with gold. "Ah. 1t was a real fairy who was just here" And he related the incident which had just oc: cured. And now, uncle. we shall go to Dame Greens party, for-see-here is cloak for you-all lined with fur. splendid one of cloth!'
 So 1t turned out that Andrew and his uncle Dan had a happy New Year. and did much good with their money, and also bought for themselves a home in the country, where they were very content.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

cannot be fixed. They are almost in pieces. We must remain at home.'
 A tap at the door called Andrew from the survey of the coats, and he went and raised the latch, peering out. No one was there on the step Andrew was much astonished He had certainly heard a rap on the door. He knew 1t wanted half an hour before his uncle would re- turn. He closed the door and turned into the room again. To his utter amazemeut. the jacket and cloak had disappeared. What had become of them? No one had entered. and they had not wings to fly away!
 As Andrew. sweeping the hearth and setting the supper table, was lost in quandary regarding his uncle's cloak and his own jacket, another tap sound- ed at the door. Andrew quickly re- sponded. and on opening the door he beheld poor, ragged boy standing there Please give me jacket to keep me warm, brother" walled the boy, who looked a poor outcast. Andrews heart bled with pity for him. "Ah, if only l had not lost my jacket I should gladly give it to you,'' ne said. Then he ex- plained the mysterious disappearance of his jacket.
 Perhaps your uncle has cloak that you might give to a poor beggar," said the stranger, looking into the wellkept room.
 'Ah. alas, my uncle's cloak disappeared
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

elevator steel frame in a shadow. Paddles saw that the thing descended. So >he went down a few steps. Then he went down some more. and before he hardly knew 1t he was on the first floor. There he paused, for he could go no farther. A strong light came in through a big glass pane in the heavy door that led to the street. But Paddles did not know where the door. led to. He only knew that 1; would carry him out of the small world he had known should 1t open.
 And it did open, and pretty soon, too. A man came through 1t and did not mo- tice the anxious. excited Paddles who quickly slipped past him into the street. Then the man closed the big door with a bang and the self-locking bolt went into place. The man hurried up the stairs, where he went on holidays to look over his books, for he was such busy man that he could not rest of night that did not follow day of work. Doubtless he was very rich man who wanted to be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01
R ROURpUzZLE
 ENORNER
IETTER ENIGMA.

LETTER ENIGMA. My first is in short, but not in tall; My second is in tumble but not in fall; My third is in dark, but not in night; My fourth is in sun, but not in light; My fifth is in orchard, but not in tree; My sixth is in ocean, but not in sea
 My whole spells the name
 Of large river, grand.
 That is very far-famed
 All over this land
 DIAGONAL.
 This diagonal contains seven words of seven letters each. If the words are rightly guessed and written one below another their diagonal letters, beginning at the top left-hand letter and ending with, the lower right-hand letter. will spell time that we celebrate. The cross- words are: 1. When darkness falls ?. Part of an apple. 8. To be bought at a druggists in the form of medicine or CO.'S metics. 4. Actors. 5. Men who are ad- dicted to the use of tobacco. 6. The com- ing of visitor. z. A heavy sea wave.
 BEHEADINGS.
 i. Behead to make fretful complaints and leave loud noise. ?. Behead month and leave part of an old-fashioned bridge 8. Behead a part of blow and leave a small wild animal 4. Behead tiny thing that leaps into the air and Rlistens for a second, and leave wooded place used for peoples recreation.
 ZIGZAG PUZZLE.
 This zigzag contains seven words of four letters each. If the words are right ly guessed and written one below another their zigzag etterV beginning with the upper left-hand leAer and ending with the lower left-hand letter, will spell that which gives us great pleasure and enlight- enment. The cross-words are: i. A high way. ,. A fruit 3. To kill. 4. Part of the human anatomy. B. Frozen raindrops. 6. To be smeared with ink. '. A child. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLES. LETTER ENIGMA.Stocking.
 HIDDEN PROVERB--There is 10 ne,o thing under the sun
 REBUS = Johnny tn Sdnta's beard Names of articles desired are spelled in fyPes rig. JVd1On. Skates, Drum
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

PADDLES was the name of an office cat He was little black fellow,
 scarcely five months old. All his
 short life had been spent inside
 huge office building in the city Of New York. His mother had been an of- flee cat before him and 1t seemed that Paddles was born to the occupation. But many times did Paddles long and long to get out of doors, to bask in the sun shine and open air. Of course, he had sort of sunshine where he was in the big office building, for of mornings-betweep and 1.-the sun shone through several windows that ranged themselves along the eastern side of the building. Ana during those two hours of sunshine-even though it filtered through heavy. dusty glass-Taddles played and tumbled apout in it. wishing for more Of 1t.
 s'Oh, this is such humdrum lire,
 thought young Paddles, having in ms small breast the desires of an adventurer.
 .I cannot content myself to remain Tn this place always-like easy-going, do nestle mother. Now, she Is content here. with her bowl of milk twice day and her bit of fresh meat at noon, and her occasional mouse at night. must have excitement-see something of the DIE world"
 So soliloquized young Mir. Paddles, half grown son of Madame Whlte- foot. tne best-beloved and most contented office cat in all the city of Greater New York.
 One day Paddles began to think of going away from the fourth floor of the great office building. Then he began making map of his little world and of the best way of getting out of 1t into that larger world where excitement was to be en- joyed There was the whole fourth floor which was divided into many rooms and private offices. A long hall led from the elevator along the row of doors leading into these numerous rooms. and often had Paddles ventured from one room to another, following the hall. While mak- ing these occasional trips about his small world the noisy aud swift eleva- tor had attracted his attention. He had noticed that people came up in the wonderful and mysterious machine, and on entering the hall they brought with them an atmosphere of the out-of-doors. cool freshness that was very delight ful to Paddles. And again lie had seen his masters the dozens of men and boys
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

TIT was the eve of New Year. The
 village fires were burning brightly,
 Fl kitchens were alight and full of the H fragrance of cakes and buildings
 being baked against the morrow, which was to be a day of merry making and good cheer.
 "A good day to you on the morrow, friend" one would hear the village folk crying out to each other in cheery voice. But there was one little heart that did not beat with happy anticipation of the New. Year. It was in the breast of little Andrew, orphan nephew of old Dan. the village crier. And the reason for An drews sadness was this: His good old uncle was in poor health, had not a farthing laid away for a rainy day, and poverty stared them in the face should old Dan become too feeble to continue at his work any longer.
 What are you making for the New Year, son?' asked old Dame Green of Andrew as she was passing the cottage. Are you making merry for tomorrowT'
 Andrew shook his head. 'I shall go
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

as every one seemed anxious to get home before the evening shadows began to fall. The night was one to be long remem- bered in that town, for when the morning dawned the snow lay two feet deep over the ground, and in places was piled to the tops of fences and porch roofs, Traf- fc was suspended, for the street-cleaners could not get out to work on account Of the severe cold and high wind, for the latter had not subsided during the night. Flossie got out of bed and ran to the window to look out Her heart sank On, there would be no party that afternoon, for the blizzard was still in progress.
 And all my pretty New Year favors, and the splendid luncheon mamma has prepared, and the games we had planned and arranged for-all-all to be wasted !!
 And something very like tear trembled on Flossies eyelash. But she remem- bered her dear mothers saying to her, "You are my brave little grille, and such a disappointment would not cause you to shed tears" So she dashed the tear from her eye and set her lips firmly together. ''I must not build too much on plans for pleasure" she said. Just as she made this resolution her eye caught sight or two small dark objects moving in the storm. Pressing her face closer to the window-pane, Flossie could make out that the two dark objects were human beings, battling against the storm. And. more- over, they were children, for they were in the street just in front of Flossie's home, and Flosse could note their size. For only moment did Flossie follow the struggling figures in the snow, then with bound she was on the stairs and in another minute was in the living-room, crying out to her father and mother, who had just come down from their own room :: There are two children in the storm Oh, papa, please rescue them P
 Mir. King did not stop to ask questions. He ran to the window and looked into the street. Flossie had spoken rightly. There were two children battling against the storm, making slow progress. MT. King threw on his oyercoat and hat and hurried into the street. Mrs. King stood beside the window, watching him. Flos- sic ran back upstairs to her room and hurriedly dressed herself. Then she went below, reaching the lving-room just as
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

at the same time with my jacket" ex- plained Andrew. But won't you coma in and have a bit of supper with us. and get warm beside our hearth?'
 The strange boy thanked Andrew and entered the cot. He sat beside the fire, warming his hands, and Andrew con- tinued to fix the supper table. While An drew was out of the room for moment having gone into the adjoining room for some bread and cheese, the strange boy quickly arose and passed small jeweled stick over his own head. Change, change." he whispered. Then, and just as Andrew was returning to the room with the food on q platter, the room suddenly became brilliantly lighted; things swan before the eyes of Andrew, and suddenly dark ness fell about him. Then the room as sumed its usual aspect again. and thero stood the boy. but no longer in rags. He was dressed like young prince, jewels and furs being part of hls raiment. An drew stood spellbound, but the visitor broke the silence. ''I am fairy prince" he said. q have brought to you a new jacket Look Into one of its pockets You
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

man who had opened the door. the same person who-many long cold hours be fore-had opened it for Paddles to pass out through. The man was leaving the building in the afternoon just as he had been entering it in the morning, by the main doorway.
 Once inside the hall 1t did not take Paddles long to reach the fourth floor. A cat remembers. road once travelled and makes no mistake in passing back over It. Paddles remembered every stairstep down which he had run to the out-ofdoors, a place he had so much desired, but which on attaining had proved 50 unsatisfactory. And he also found that going up the steps had been.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

on Sundays and Saturday afternoons But Paddles knew this was not a Sunday. though how he was conscious of this fact I cannot tell you. But nevertheless he knew 1t was not Sunday. but that it was holiday for on holidays none of the workers employed on the fourth floor during regular work days came.
 But Paddles did not know that this especial holiday was New Years Day. And he went about exploring ways and means of making an exit from this small world of which he had tired. To his grief he found the elevator was not run ming. just as on other holidays and Sun days. Now, how would he get down out of this high place? He crept about. keep ing out of his mother's sight, for he feared she'd object to his leaving their present abode While he loved his mother dearly, he felt that the time for their parting had come He knew that cats, ike other animals, left the parent roof as soon as they reached the age of self
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

employed in different lines of work in his small world-going down in that eleva- tor into the great out-of-doors, for on their return they invariably brought with them freshness of atmosphere. their coats and hats often being white with cold substance which they called "snow." And so 1t was that Paddles began to plan on going down in that mysterious ma chine. thus gaining the out-of-doors where the air was fresh and the white snow was to be seen everywhere.
 One morning Paddles and his mother had the fourth floor to themselves, just as
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

protection. Paddles had an idea that all he had to do was to sally forth into the world and find a good living ready made to his order waiting for him.
 Up and down the hall he roamed, his eye on the elevator door, hoping against hope that the machine would come up. But the great yawning place where 1t so swiftly lifted and lowered itself remained dark and bottomless.
 All of sudden Paddles eyes fell on something he had never before noticed. This newly-discovered thing was the broad stairway that was tucked in behind the