davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15


 in defiance, for they knew I would punt the ball far out of danger.
 "Kidders, I hate to tell the rest. but as I stepped back, ten yards be- hind our goal line, I didn't seem to know what I was there for or what those funny men were doing kneeling down and facing each other. 1 want ed to lope and run away from them. I thought they were up to mischief and meant to hurt me, but I wasn't afraid of them and I thought I could protect myself if they tried to harm me.
 "I pranced around uneasily as they knelt motionless. began to see dim ly and 1t made me mad as a hornet. l was sure they were planning to injure me. Sure enough, I saw one of the men throw something backward be- tween his legs to another man and then that man turned around and threw the thing at me. I thought sure he was going to hit me and. de- termined to protect myself. snorted in defiance and turned my back to them. I got down on my hands and knees and kicked with both feet at 
 me. l hit it a good, square lick and 1t flew into the arms of man who fell across the goal line. I learned after wards that man was a Dee player"
 But what became of you, Uncle Harry?"
 "As soon as kicked the ball pranced around the field. kicking up my heels and snorting. I had turned into mule. The mule tendon not only made me a great kicker, but made me like the mule it was taken out of. But the players chased me down and calmed me, and the doctor learned that Dee had won l was awfully sorry and have never for given myself to this day"
 But, Uncle Harry. you never act like a mule these days"
 No, but you have never seen me excited. When I get mad I prance around and snort and feel like kick ing everything I see. You ought to see me-"
 Have you still got that mule ten don in your leg?"
 Certainly. Some of these days I'll show you the scar"
 The boys were silent moment. Then Frank said, mischievously, winking at George:
 Uncle Harry, come and kick us a few punts with my new football"
 Now you boys must chase your selves. Your old uncle's mule ten- don isn't as lively as it used to be-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

whips the ball to pitcher. Side retir- ed. Without teamwork a run would have been scored.
 It's the same in basketball. Two minutes more to play. Score tied. Referee losses up the ball. Center slaps the ball to right forward. At the same time left guard breaks loose and receives the throw from &ight forward. The guard shoots the ball to left forward, who drops 1t in the basket. Team work again.
 Even in track it takes team work to win. It is the half mile race. The star runner lags behind while his "understudy" takes the lead and paces his opponents until they are worn out. Then he drops behind and the star, comparatively fresh, sprints at the finish and wins.
 So 1t Is in every other form of sport hockey, polo, lacrosse, soccer-or even shinny, one-old -cat, blackman or pussy wants s-a-corner. The team that depends on an individual star seldom wins games. It is the team that plays like a machine, each man working in harmony with his mates without a thought or care for glory, that takes the blue ribbon.
 If you havea football team, don't de- pend on speedy fullback or heavy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

"Oh, please don't strike each other" she would plead, her blue eyes full of misery occasioned by the evil con- duct of her play-fellows. Don't you know it is wicked to call one another names and to strike blows with fists ?"
 One day Hattie's attention was called to the house of their neighbor, Jake Fellows. There seemed to be some sort of disturbance going on in there. Hattie knew that the head miller was at work in the mill, for it was Saturday, very busy day for him. It seemed that most of the farmers coming that way to town would fetch their bags of wheat, rye and corn to be ground for them against their late return in the even ing. And on such days old Jake Fellows worked early and late.
 Hattie stepped upon the back porch of the Fellows house and listened. Yes, there was a wrangle of voices to several of the children of the vii cinity. She could distinctly hear Jimmy Sullivan saying: "Aw, keep oAt of this! It's mine by discovery" Then followed war of words, some
 
 ter divide, or we'll go and tell," or, Well pitch you put. you pig! Give us share.'
 Hattie stepped to the door and pushed it open. She looked inside. kitchen table. were two boys and three girls. Jimmy and Kitty Sulli- van were holding tightly to a box rr,l,i icI, A,.t in nd ho1 Richards were trying their best to take away from them. So intent upon their mischief were the children that they did not see Hattie till she came quite close enough to them to lay hand on Susan's shoulder. Then they turned upon her. and Jimmy Sullivan cried out:
 Say, Happy, you go long home and mind your own bizness."
 Its my business, Jimmy, to ask what right you children have in MT. Fellows house = when he's not at home to invite you in. And-what are you quarreling over? What's in that box?"
 The struggling children fell apart. the girls going off into a corner to whisper their angry feelings to each other while the two boys remained be- side the table, Jimmy holding to one end of the box while Art held to the other.
 What have you, Jimmy and Art?" again asked Hattie. coming close to the boys and laying a hand upon the box. Give 1t to me-" she added in her calm. coaxing voice.
 Say. you go home and mind your business" said Jimmy. glaring at the little intruder. What you come sneakin' here for. I'd like to isnow?"l
 "Yes. sneakin' where you're not asked nor wanted" put in Art. letting go his end of the disputed box.
 Now. look here. boys." said Hat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
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candy, and of that being frozen. Not as attractive as good warm break fast, is it? Think, too, of a night that lasts for six months?"
 'One ought to get enough sleep in that time"
 Perhaps. Think of not being able to visit your neighbors during the winter on account of the excessive cold. Think of land without trees and blossoms. Think of Santa Claus never coming"
 "Why, Uncle, thought Santa Claus came from Greenland"
 Maybe he does come from there. but he does not visit the land with presents like he does this country. It seems romantic to talk of the chill Fdren of the snow. but tell you. Alton. it is here in America that children have the bes. time in the world"
 But I don't like hot weather, Uncle."
 Nobody does-in the summer time. But when winter comes and the snow is everywhere, then we are all only too glad to see a day of sunshine and weather that will admit of living out doors The children of the sun are richer than those who live where are heaped the treasures of the snow."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

S"BOUT a great flour mill there
 clustered half dozen cottages
 in which lived the families of % - the mil1-men. All were in very good circumstances, and had very pleasant homes. The head miller. who was a ueer-mannered old chap of fifty-flve years, lived alone In a small house close beside the great mill in which his six weekdays were spent. He had neither wife nor child. He seemed to those about him an "old crank" Or at least, that was the name some of his fellowworkmen ap- piled to him on occasions.
 The nearest neighbors to the head miller-whose name was Jake Eel lows-were the Smiths. The Smiths numbered three, MT. and Mrs. Smith and their little daughter, Hattie. Ow- ing to the latter's sunny face and al- ways bright disposition her father had nicknamed her Happy Hattie"
 Happy Hattie sang about her work of mornings before school, and of evenings after school. Other children of the neighborhood might quarrel and fight and bout and cry, but Happy Hattie never took part in their squab- bles. She often ran to group of fighting urchins to act in the capacity of speacemaker, however.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

I took good aim and-thud-the ball
 flew down the field.
 gridiron to our goal line. They were so much heavier than we were that they soon had the ball on our ten yard line. Then their quarterback fumbled and we got the ball. Again drew applause from the rooters when I kicked ninety yards out of danger. Again and again Dee pushed the ball down the field, only to be driven back when I kicked the ball to the other end of the gridiron. They were discouraged because they could not score. Indeed, they would have made several touchdowns if it hadn't been for my kicking, if do say it myself. But we were all mighty glad when the whistle blew for the first half without a score. The Coach gave us all a good talking-to between halves and we went into the game feeling sure we would win.
 "The crowd cheered as I came on the field, though I wish they hadne done it, for the other boys on our team worked just as hard as I did. On the kickoff Dee man caught the ball and wriggled his way through the field and ran towards our goal. Everybody thought he was going to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

outweighed us fifteen pounds to the man."
 My, that's whole lot, Uncle Harry"
 "We lined up, but my captain wouldn't let me kick off for fear I'd kick the ball over the line to start with. Dee got the ball and on the first down made fifteen yards through shortstop-"
 "Oh. Uncle Harry-you don't mean shortstop. That's in baseball. You mean tackle"
 That's it-tackle. couldn't think of the right word. Then, they made ten yards around end and another ten through center. Our crowd was sur prised the way they started off, but we knew that if I ever got hold of the ball they'd have to begin all over again. They rushed the ball to our five-yard line and then we held them for downs and I got the ball. Every body cheered when I stepped back for kick. I stood fifteen yards be- hind the goal line. You see wanted
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
UNCLE HARRY--FULLBACK.

member I had mule tendon in me. You know how hard a mule can kick. The students were all glad when they heard I could play again. especially when they heard I could kick sixty to seventy yards. We had a very successful season. We won every game up to the Dee game by large scores. We beat Swatemagain by about 40 to and won from Rip roar College 115 to 65.''
 ''Whoo! Those are awfully big scores, Uncle Harry"
 "Yes, but look how I could kick. They didn't get chance to go near our goal. At last the day of the big Dee game was at hand. We would rather beat Dee than any of the others and they were afraid of us be- cause they knew how I could kick. All of our rooters were yelling them selves hoarse, while the Dee players looked mighty glum, for they didn't have show of winning, though they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

chief in the tiny village.
 wy" said Jimmy, III at ease, and replying against his will. MT. Eel lows sent Art after some papers he had left on his table in the kitchen. Art asked me to come with him. An I come.'
 And why didn't you get the papers for MT. Fellows and return to the mill with them?" So queried the de- termined Hattie.
 Well, Art--he looked inside that box, an he said, 'Geel Here's candy and figs An I said fer him to give me taste. He grabbed the box an run round the room with it, tryin' to take out some candy and figs. An I run after him. Then the girls-that had come along behind us-come
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

IT was hot day in October, when
 the sun seemed to beat down with fury that was not so noticeable even in summer. Alton opened his collar and said to Uncle Wash
 T wish I was in Greenland. The children of the Eskimos have the best time"
 ''Do you think SOP" asked Uncle Wash. They know nothing of ap- ples peaches. oranges or bananas They have no cities. no roads, no railroads or trolleys, no telegraphs or telephones. no newspapers, no mail delivery, no books" 4r
 Some of those things are not so bad" replied Alton with a smile. "They don't have fans, nor do they need them."
 "True enough" Uncle Wash re- sponded, "but they don't have stoves either. The smoke from the fires they build ascends through the roofs of their little huts, into which they arc compelled to crawl. and they are. with all their heavy wrappings. sell dom warm. I'll ink of family living in one room; and that no bigger than your bath roorl.'s
 "They don't need bath rooms in Greenland, Uncle," returned the boy. Think of eating hubber instead of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
1nNCLE HARRY, did you ever play a game of football?"
 VI "Football? Oh, yes-football.


 a game of football?" VI Football? Oh, yes-football.
 To be sure did, kidders."
 When you were a boy?'
 "Yes-that is, when I went to col lege,''
 Were you a very good player?"
 "Well, now, kidders, I oughtn't to say it myself, but I was about the best there was in my day. I suppose that calls for story. see what you kidders are after.
 Tt was in our game against Dee College. Dee was our hated rival and we were anxious to beat them. The game was pretty nearly over and neither side had scored. I was the kicker-what do you call it, Frank ?" "Fullback."
 'Oh yes, I was fullback. I had been bunting the ball ever so many yards and it was really my kicking that kept the Dee eleven from SCOT ing. was running with the ball when whole lot of big, heavy play CTS fell on your poor uncle and all most killed him. I heard something snap and when they carried me off the-the gridiron. isn't 1t, Frank?- the doctor told me. the tendon in my kicking leg was broken and that l could never play football again. May be didn't feel blue."
 s."But did those Dee boys win the gamer"
 "Yes, Frank; as soon as was taken out they ran the ball over the goal line and made a--what you call It. boys?"
 ..Touchdown."
 That's it. The whole school was sorry I was hurt. Besides, I wanted to play football again. Now there was a lot of students at my school studying to be doctors. I knew a few of them real well. One day l had an idea. By the way, boys. were you ever kicked by mule?"
 NO, Uncle Harry"
 Well, it sure hurts. As I was say ing, I got to thinking and I fixed it up with a bunch of those students to cut my leg open and put in another tendon so I could play football again. Do you boys know what a tendon is?p
 No, sir"
 "A tendon is bony structure In your leg that acts like a spring. It
  very strong. Now, those doctors took 8 tendon from the right hind leg of a mule and put 1t in my leg"
 Why, mules bigger than you, Uncle"
 "Yes, Frank, but this was young mule. They made the operation very successfully-for young chaps-but 1t took almost my whole summer vaca- tion for my leg to heal up. I was willing, though. to suffer anything if I could play football the next fall and beat Dee College.
 The coach was awfully. glad to see me back on the gridiron whep school opened. He handed me a football and I gave 1t an easy little kick and 1t sailed fifty yards. I tried again and it went seventy" Why, Uncle Harry, forty yards is a good distance for most punters."
 "Yes, I know, but you must re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

tie, a little smile on her sunny face, you must not accuse me of doing the things you are guilty of doing your- selves. You came 'sneaking,' not I. And you were not wanted here by the master of the house for he doesn't like children-especially children who are likely to meddle with his property.
 Say, you get out, will you?" cried Jimmy. losing his ugly temper. You're like a Sunday-sehool teacher. Get out.'
 While speaking, Jimmy had put the box on the table, and instantly Hat tie had seized it. She ran towards the other room with it in her arms. the two boys following her. At the door which joined the two rooms, she turned quickly and confronted the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
S SOURpUZZLE 1N NOPNER-
HIDDEN ARTICLES IN THE
 SCHOOLROOM.

SCHOOLROOM. Ffve well-known articles belonging to the school room are spelled in the following sentences. the letters run ming together correctly. 1. John is late at school every morn ing.
 2. The teacher declared Bert able to solve the problem himself. 8. Emma plays tag at recess. 1. The teacher told of a strange peo- pie called Eskimos who live in snow houses.
 5. Willie Is in kindergarten. for he is too young to go to school.
 LETTER ENIGMA. My first is in heart, but not in blood: My second is in water. but pot n flood:
 My third is in long. but not h wide: My fourth Is the same as my third, I'll connda:
 My fifth is in COW, but not In calf: My sixth is in whole. but not in half: My seventh Is ia tiger, but not n roar:
 My eighth is exactly the same as be- fore:
 My ninth is in window. but not In door:
 My whole is a night
 Which soon we shall see
 Bringing fun to the young
 To the old misery.
 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEK'S
 PUZZLES. CH4RADE: -Pcn-Point. ADDITI0NS:-1. 1VeIlDneH 2. Pin Spin. 3. A'm-Harm. 4 Ouch-Touch. BEHEADINGS AND CURTAILINGS Il. Tra0el-rave. 2. Frotn-roao. 3. ScoWl-cop. 4. FRes-lie.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

make touchdown. but I ran up be- hind him and tackled him on our three-yard line. We got the ball on downs and I kicked to the other end of the field. Time and again Dee rushed the ball almost to our goal, but my mule tendon was working good and l always kicked the ball high out of danger. Once when I got the ball made mislick and kicked it straight up in the air instead of forward. It went so high the referee got tired of waiting for it and got another ball. Just as they were get ting ready to play, I saw the ball coming down and caught 1t. The next time I kicked 1t to their ten yard line and once more we were out of danger.
 Now, kidders, I'm coming to the pathetic part of this story and you must not mind me if I show any
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

to have plenty of time to make the kick, and what difference did meas ly fifteen yards make to me? The enemy's quarterback had moved down the field until he was almost out of sight, but determined to kick over his head. The center snapped the ball to our halfback, who was between me and the line, and he threw it to me. I took good aim and-thud!- the ball flew down the field. Foot ball field with boys playing. It seem ed like it never would come down, but it fell on Dee's five-yard line, way over the quarterback's head. It was the longest kick I ever made one hundred and twenty yards. Some kick, wasn't it, boys?"
 Well, should say so. I wish could kick that far"
 "The rooters went wild. They gave me three cheers as I walked down the field to line up. The Dee team again began their steady march down the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

7ZDUNST there was three tiny little children W Left by their mammy all alone
 while she Went to the Ladies' Aid, and they was
 scairt; And they was a big snake, a great
 big snake as long As clear across the street-no, not that
 long As long as twenty men-come In the
 door, An quoiled up on the floor an rose
 it's head An said, Sss! An it was one of those Rattly- battly snakes: an all the chii-
 dren Oh, they was scairt; an they put up
 their hands An looked into the eyes of that big An crep' an crep' on toward it:
 cause you know The snake had charmed 'em. An it
 said, Sss!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

"NOt another step. New stand where boys. Her face had lost its usual sunny smile. and new and strange expression had come upon it. There was something of defiance in her eyes, and determination in her manner.
 Not another step!" As she spoke in firm, commanding tones. she threw up hand as if to ward off her enemy. Not another step. And now, stand where you are and reply to my ques- tions."
 At first. Jimmy sneered and Art giggled. But their forced mirth soon subsided as they looked into Hattie's eyes. There was something there which they both feared and respected.
 Now" spoke Hattie, sternly. how did you come to enter this house while the owner is away?" She addressed Jimmy, the recognized leader of mis-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

1ENTER snaps the ball to left half, who losses it to fullback. M At the same time, left end tackle and quarterback sprint around the line and form a little box. The line- men hold their opponents as the full back shoots the ball to left end. A forward passl Ten yards gained. What made it possible, boys? Team work!
 Man on third. Two out. Batter lays down a bunt along the first base line. First baseman runs forward to field the ball. pitcher sprints to first and is backed up by second baseman. all with the crack of the bat. First
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

you are and answer my questions" running in an they wanted candy and figs, too. Then we all got to scrap pin an next thing in you popped meddling with other peoples busi- ness"
 "Other peoples business. eh?' It was loud masculine voice that spoke, and the children all turned quickly to see old Jake Fellows stand ing in the open doorway. Don't move, you little rascals," he added, as the boys were on the point of run ming out of the room. T want to give you a bit of advice and a little lesson for you to learn besides" Then he came into the room and walked over to the group of silent children. I've been a listener ever since lit tie Happy Hattie came into the house." said Jake Fellows. T won
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15

An rattled with its tail; you know Il
 was A rattly- battly snake. An 1t just It's head, an droved the children
 closter, sos it could Pop down its head an bite 'em. An
 men one . - Of the scairt little girls, whose name
 was Minnie No, I forgot, twas Asmarilda-she Slept up clost to the snake, an shook
 her finger An said to it: Please. snake, good
 little cnake, .5 ssz4z.. Go way an don't bite us." IN nen
 the snake Unquoiled itself an put its head plum
 down Upon the floor an really, truly left. Now, wasn't Minnie-I mean. Asma- A brave, good. little girl for saving
 them? An wasn't that nice. good little
 snake?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-15
Home Happiness

NITTLE children in the corner
 Playing "Old Club Fist.' kA Firelight the room is warming Outside there's flying mist. Mother sits beside the table
 Mending things to wear; Father, reading news to Mother. Is in his big arm chair. And old Pussy on the hearth rug Purrs in gentle bliss; Thus the picture is completed Of Home Happiness.
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-11-21

Frank Runnion was forty years old
and a man of the world. He had not
married because he regarded 1t wo-
mans purpose to hang on to some
man and get out of him all she could.
Many of them he considered adven-
turesses, capable Of deceiving Satan.
Runnion was an importer. and every
year lie went to Europe to lay in a
stock Of goods. He was one after
noon buying in lace factory in the
environs of Paris when an American
lady and her daughter, who were be-
ing shown through the premises, pass
ed him. The mother was a thin wo-
man. The daughter may be described
as willowy, about twenty years old.
retiring and diffident. Her mother
Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-11-21

La ge assortment of FIRST class rubber goods
of every kind, lex room articles Of every
kind.