davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26
,FHE MAGIC SLATE. A FAIRY STORY FOR CHILDREN

find the old tree and dig about its roots.
 Just as the daylight was beginning to strengthen tho Perri children slipped out from their fathers little stone cottage and went running to- wards a range of mountains two miles distant. One high point was called Red Mountain. and towards 1t they went.
 How long they ran they had no way of knowing. But at the end of their journey they did not feel tired. They walked about the base of Red Mountain. looking and looking for the lonely tree. After what seemed long time, Marina stopped and pointed finger, crying: There it is. Jacinti. there 1t is!"
 Jacinti turned to see what she tree, crooked, half-dead. aged tree. The children ran to it with all haste. for they knew they had found the right spot. Jacinti fell to digging about the roots of the tree with q bit of limb which had died and fallen from It's parent trunk. Marina fol- lowed his example. Together they dug and dug for ever so long when suddenly Jacinti's stick struck against something hard. He thrust his hand down into the loose dirt and felt about. Yes. there was something hard and cold and like a piece of iron.
 It took over an hour for the chill dren to get the iron vase-falling into ruin from iron rust-from its place In the earth. Then they found it's lid firmly sealed In place. They could not open it.
 'Ill carry 1t home to our Papa" said Jacinti. And he took 1t in his arms and went towards the city. Ma rina running along behind him.
 But long before they reached their own home the children were met by bands of persons hunting for them. Poor frightened Papa and Mamma Perri had reused their many neigh bors and friends who were assisting in the search for the missing children.
 "Ah, well, methinks you'll get good jacket warming. my young fel- low" cried one burly neighbor. shak- ing a warning finger at Jacini.
 But Jacinti only laughed and went running on, leaving the searching party far behind. And Marina kept pace with him. Soon they ran into their own home, where their distract ed mother kept watch. She had feared to leave the house lest her little ones come and find it locked. so she had remained there. having word from time to time from those making the search.
 Well, to shorten this story, tho chil- dren were not long in showing their mother the iron vase. And she was not long in melting off the lid. And when Papa Perri entered. havin; been told by some one that his chill drcn had turned up. he found wife and little ones counting over great
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

will arrive tomorrow morning. She's going to give an afternoon reception in their honor. and wants the flowers to decorate the rooms. I don't like to disappoint a good customer like Mrs. Churchill, so I'm going to offer you a good price for your flowers. I'll give you twice as much as the regular selling price,"
 Pearl stood meditating the offer, she hated toilet the day go by with out decorating the graves of the un- known-the graves her mother always took especial pains to look after Again she felt reluctant to refuse the florist a good man, whom her father and mother thought highly of. But her duty = she wanted to see that clearly. The money did not appeal to her at all--it was just duty. Should she let the florist have the baskets of lovely blossoms for his good customer. or should she carry them to the ceme- tery.
 Well. MT. Oliver" she said, un- certain as to what to do. T should just love to let you have the flowers but it may be my duty to carry them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

thing about the slate. Many came and examined it but none claimed 1t. Inquiry was made at the palace, but it did not belong there.
 once moro Papa Perri went home to his evening meal, carrying the slate under his arm. No one claims it, good wife," he said. "So 1t belongs to us till an owner appears to prove it his property"
 That evening after supper the wrap ping was again removed from the slate, and to their astonishment. the marks and the writing had nearly disappeared from It's surface. In his eagerness to try writing on 1t again, little Jacinn placed his damp hand upon the slate. and To, the remaining dim lines and letters were erased.
 Why, I do believe dampness re- moves the writing" cried Jacinti. Then Papa Perri very carefully wiped the slate with a damp cloth and 1t made it clean and fresh again.
 "Oh, it's a magic thing" declared Mamma Perri.
 That night, when all were asleep, Jacinti was awakened by peculiar scratching on the slate which was on a table in his room. He got up and listened intently. Yes. 1t was some one writing on the slate-"the myster- jous flat thing"-as the Ferris called the slate. Jaeinti crept from bed and went softly to the table. By the dim moonlight which entered the room Jacinti could see the long pencil moving rapidly across the slate, leav- ing written words thereon. Suddenly, as though flash of lightning made 1t. there came a stream of light across the slate. By 1t Jacinti was able to read the words written there: "Go outside the city to the foot of Red Mountain; find a lonely tree; dig at it's roots and you will discover a hid- den treasure. It has lain there thousand years. No living person owns it. It shall be yours. But if you become wicked. or oppress the poor. 1t shall be lost to you, and this slate will become broken"
 As Jacinti finished reading, the light went out. He grabbed up the slate and ran to his fathers and mothers room. "Oh, wake, wake" he cried. Something miraculous has happened"
 But when the parents had awak- ened and Papa Perri had made light the slate was clean of words. There remained not a single mark or letter to bear testimony to the message which Jacinti had seen written there.
 You dreamed it, son." smiled Mamma Perri. Run along and go to sleep And do not let the strange thing bo sher you any more."
 But Jsscinti could not sleep. He lay awake til! dawn, then he got up and ran to his sisters bed. waking her. She was wide-eyed as her brother told her in excited whispers about the writing on the strange. fiat thing" She got up and dressed hur- riedly. for Itogether they had agreed to go to tAe foot of Red Mountain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

saw that Pearl was right as to their number. He "bunched in" the rest and put the baskets on table. Then he drew out his purse and handed Pearl two dollars. That's about what I'd pay wholesale today. Miss Pearl And thank you ---."
 But Pearl was gone. Our first duty is to the living" she kept saying to herself. "The living feel-they suf- fer-they enjoy. Our first duty Is to them." Then she was beside the wagon, and smiling up into the wom- an's and little girls faces. T heard what you said bit ago." she dared She was looking at the woman now. T wish very much to give some or anges to the little girl. You see, just sold two big baskets of flowers and got quite a lot of money" And she held up tho two-dollar bill. T don't need the money at all. I was taking the flowers to the cemetery and the poor florist wanted them. And hearing the little girl wish for an orange, said to myself that our first duty is to the living. May I give her some oranges?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26
Dur Wild Cousins

t0 O often we hear the question, Do N animals think?" And we wonder H that there are persons who for ne moment doubt that animals think nd reason like men, for they do, l snly in lesser degree. Take the OK for instance. It lives in civilized ommunities, rearing it's young among nemies. Men and dogs pursue it, ut still it lives and multiplies. Were not possessed of a reasoning power
 would have been exterminated long go. Thus it plainly shows that the OK thinks-reasons-p
 Have. you ever seen a rabbit cor cred? If so, you have noticed the tartled look in it's eyes. But it does ot stop and wait in tho path of its tursuers. 1t hides itself behind any fhing 1t can find, remaining only till Ranger is scented nearby, when again E is off in search of another hiding Elace. And often it eludes it's enemies. Ilthough they are many. and man. ges to get to safety. Then 1t must eason-and reasoning is thinking nd planning.
 Beavers have been known to reason heir way out of difficulties. One has een known to deliberately gnaw off
 leg in order to escape from a trap. len who are professional animal rainers will tell you of the wonderful Intelligence of horses and dogs To e sure, these are domestic animals, hut this fact does not alter to a harked degree their mental capacity.
 Many professional animal trainers 5ill hold that the most remarkable yild animal. from the standpoint of Intelligence. is the chimpanzee. It has
 nervous temperament" say those Tho have been long associated with Its mind acts very quickly which
 to be observed in it's quick move nents and flashes of the eyes. It has probably) a greater range of ideas han any other animal. It also dis lays a remarkable memory when in he hands of trainers.
 The elephant Is a very intelligent nimal also, and shows great adapt bility. It is one of the easiest anil hals to domesticate, and becomes a gal beast of burden. The bear is Tell up in the scale of animal intelii- ence and Is easily taught to perform .icks. It can understand words when hught in connection with the ob- Jets.
 The close study of animals has roved that all animals have more or Ess thinking ability. they reason and Ian to a certain degree, as in the hse of those building or preparing iaces of shelter and safety. Were
 species without thinking power it ouid soon become extinct. for 1t ould not protect itself against its numerous enemies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26
Pearls Decoration Day

ECORATION Day dawned beau
 H tifully clear. Pearl Smith was
 W up and out In the garden, cut ting flowers before breakfast. f'We must get an early start, before the day becomes too hot" she said to her brother Randolph.
 "Yes, since we intend to walk all the way to the cemetery" replied Randolph, assisting to gather flowers. T like to walk, too. it's through such p lovely meadow and over a breezy hill"
 I'm so sorry Mamma won't be able to go with Ius," said Pearl. "She always takes such an interest in deo- .orating the graves of the unknown. Last year she bought several dollars worth of roses from the florists to lay on those unknown soldiers graves" :"
 'Yes. I wish Mamma could go with .us, too. But she'll not leave Mrs. packsons till the Jackson baby Is en- ztirely out of danger. Mamma said the first duty was to the living, and Mamma knows"
 What would the poor neighbors do without our mother?" asked Pearl. lowering a great blush rose from its stem and placing it tenderly in the basket on bed of soft ferns. When ever one of them is sick she not only goes in person and looks after the patient, but carries food and medicine, and many times calls in our own doc tor. Mamma is a iblessing to the neighborhood, I say"
 Indeed, Mamma Is a blessing to &he whole world. She always does |the right thing. So declared Ran
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

the moment I was about to plant my foot on the spot where it appeared. I picked 1t up and brought 1t home. for there were no persons in front of me to have dropped it."
 Well, husband, you will try to- morrow to find the owner" said Mamma Perri.
 "Oh. for a certainty" replied Papa Perri. Tt may belong to some one at the palace. Perhaps" he added. just thinking of it. perhaps it was not our right to make markssupon the thing. Maybe 1t is for some high officer of the state, or priest of the temple. and we may have committed grave offence
 "Oh. I hope we have done nothing criminal, to get ourselves placed in prison. or our business confiscated," cried good Mamma Perri-
 Nothing so grave as that, my good wife" treasured Papa Pcrri. "But we'll find out tomorrow all about the thing
 But on the following day Papa Per ri could not find any. one who knew.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

palace grounds" he said, "as I all ways do of an evening. It is safer from the thievess and robbers than ight-darkened temple. Well, just as l was opposite the back gate leading into the palace grounds I saw this parcel lying in front of me. It seemed to appear of sudden. for I had been looking at the path ahead of me for several minutes. the light from the palace garden lamps making it very bright. And I had not seen this package. But just as I was about to step upon it I saw 1t. Indeed, as I just said, it seemed to fall from the sky or to rise from the. ground at
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

to the cemetery. If I let you have them, though, I could not allow you to pay me moro than you would pay your wholesale florist. And l should let you have them as matter of ac- commodation-not for the money, you understand. But -." And Pearl paused. She was undecided still.
 Just at that very moment poor, old team of horses came round the corner. dragging a battered prairie schooner" In the seat were a man and woman, thin and bearing the traces of hardship. The man drew the horses to a stop in front of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

slate by pretty red cord. and drew It across the black, highly polished smooth surface. To! It made white mark. The Perri family stood aghast. Then Papa Perri drew the point of the pencil across the slate and 1t made another mark. Then Marina did the same. and Mamma Perri also.
 It writes" said Papa Perri. Let us see if it will make our name" And he wrote as with quill his own name. Yes. there 1t was. white and plain. Then the Ferris wrote over all one side of the slate. and turned it over. But Papa Perri shook his head. We must not cover both sides,' he said. flor then we'd have no space left. Let's put it by till we learn it's secrets
 And tell us where you found 1t, Papa" urged Marina. "Yes. tell us about it." added Jacinti.
 Then, as they sat around the sup per table. Papa>Perri told of the find- ing of the peculiar thing. T was coming along the path back of the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

Pearl quickly made up her mind. She suddenly turned about and ran into the florists shop. "Here-take both baskets of flowers, MT. Oliver" she said. Pay me what's right for them. Not more than wholesale price. But - please don't stop to count them. I think there are four dozen roses, half that many buds, and we'll just bunch in the other flowers and ferns. Give me what you think is right. for Pm in great hurry"
 Mir. Oliver was pleased. He'd not have to disappoint his richest GUS toner now. He fumbled about in the baskets counted the roses by threes
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

yellow pieces of gold. They were coins dating back several hundred years.
 And so 1t was that the Perri fam fly, that had been so poor yesterday found themselves rich, and they owed 1t to the magic slate and to little Jacintis belief In the slate's writing and his courage to go in quest of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

Solution to last weeks Shadow patch Puzzle. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS
 PUZZLES. CURTATLTBGS: l. CdfotCdr. 2. BYeddth-Bread. 3. FHtch-Flit. BEHEADINGS: l. Flute-Lute. 2. Infrms- Firm g. Dismdy-May. WORD SQUARE:
 r I'M
 R S E
 & F
 MEET PRIMAL ACROSTIC: Spring. Pic tured t0ofds l. SonGs. 2. Pears. 8 Rings 4. Idle. ,. Night 6. Graves
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

"oh, thank you thank you" smiled the woman. tears coming Into her mother-eyes. "But--I wonder If your own mother will not want the money?"
 Pearl stopped her. My own moth- CT would do just what I am doing" she declared. "She is so kind--so generous. But-I could talk all day of my mother and father. So mustn't let myself get started. I shall get the oranges" And she ran Into the grocery and bought a whole dozen of oranges. half dozen bananas. some apples and mixed nuts. After making these purchases she still had one dol
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26
R OurpuZZle Corner 9B

My first Is a planet
 We see In the sky:
 It shines very brightly
 To be up so high. '
 My second is hard
 Of surface. and cold;
 Biologists tell us
 It Is very old.
 My two joined together
 In trinket Is seen;
 Sometimes 1t looks white.
 Or q pale blueish-green.
 PRIMAL ACRosTIC. If the words forming this acrostic are rightly guessed and written ono below another. their primals will spell the name of once-great man whose memory Is beloved by all. The cross- words are: 1. Part of chain. 9. A term of measurement. 8. A part of speech. 4. A nutritious grain. 5. A bird. 6. A body of water surrounded by land. '. To be tidy.
 ADDITIONS. 1. Add the letter D to a round bun dle of paper and get to be cleverly humorous or comical. 2, Add the letter D to floating structure and get an order for money. 3. Add the letter G to dry soil and set an organ which Is found in many parts of the human body.
 RIDDLE. Two letters often tempt mankind, And those who yield will surely find Two others ready to enforce The punishment. which comes. of
 course.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

HOP to the candy shop N1 To buy some chocolate drops; H J Hippety-hop to the fruiter's shop To buy some corn which will pop. to our home again. With candy, popcorn and pepper;
 to the kitchen fire. For each of us is a hopper.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

20 HE Perri family were very poor -oh, very poor indeed. One
 day Papa Perri, head of the
 D family, came home to his eyen- ing meal with something wrapped in soft, gaily tinted paper. T found this" he said, unwrapping the parcel. To the wonderment of Mamma Perri and the two little Ferris, Jacinti. elev- en, and Marina, nine, the thing foupd by their father was slate. Now, such a thing had never been seen in that land. and no one knew it was a slate. They examined the strange object, and pretty soon Ja- cinti. the little boy, picked up the pencil which was attached to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

home again. A good job waits me there. and my wife and little ono are looking forward to the day when we will be reunited with the old folks at home."
 Tears were in the mans voice as he spoke, tears of hope. He was ten- der father and good husband, though unfortunate. But Pearl knew he was of the right metal, and felt that all would be well with her friends of a few minutes when they were again reunited with the old folks at home." And with merry good bye. and q wish for their future happiness and success, she turned down the street towards her own home. And with their blessings ringing in her ears, she repeated again. "Our first duty is to the living" Then she ran on, deciding to gather all the green leaves and ferns she could find. and to weave them into pretty wreaths for the graves of the unknown.
 There is nothing fresher and pret. tier than wreaths of just green" she said. And I'll make a lot of them It will be a little late when reach the cemetery-but 1t Is better late than never"
 Then, singing softly. and with light heart. Pearl began to make tha garlands of green to carry to the graves of tho unknown.
 And so I shall do something for both the living and the dead" she said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

the treasure. And the Ferris were charitable. giving much to the poor. and they were never wicked. having kind hearts and living pure, simple lives.
 And the magic slate was wrapped in silk and laid carefully away. Tt shall never be touched. save by a fairy" declared Jacint, who knew that the slate belonged to the fairies. and that some day a fairy might come and carry it away to another poor family, and enrich them by so doing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

Experiments are under way in Ger any with a view to utilizing the apyrus and other reeds of the Nile |arshes as fuel by drying them. re- lcing them to powder and forming FiQuettes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

And while we carry flowers today To lay on graves in tender love To honor those who've passed be-
 yond-
 We know they're happy far above.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

And smiles are better far than tears Smiles wait their way to Heavens
 door, To those we've loved when here in
 life,
 To those who've only gone before.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

FVNE must not think of our dear dead . As lying in the ground so cold; Their souls no graves have ever
 felt They've gone to dwell in Heavenly
 fold.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-26

Iris fondest memory calls us forth On sacred Decoration Day. With rose-twlned garlands pure and
 sweet, On known and unknown graves to
 lay.
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-14
RATE HEARING RECORD
VOLUM|M0Us N BULK

4 complete record OF the testi-
mony in the rate hearing before the
Interstate Commerce Commission at
Dallas on November 20. was recely-
ed by the Chamber OF Commerce yes
,erday. The transcript contains 1872
typewriter pages and makes a bulky
volume.
Upon telegraphic requests the rec
ord was Immediately forwarded 20
Judge n. a sieadman OF Austin.
who represents Amarillo In a legal
capacity before the Interstate Com
merce Commission. This data will
be needed 10 back the second fight
which will be made for a common
bvlnt rate for this city. which will
occur before the Commission some
time during the present month, ac-
cording 70 present calculations.
IN addition other statistics are be-
ing assembled which will strengthen
the already formidable array which
has been presented In Amarillo's be-
half The rate committeeman are
stlll optimistic over the uotlook. and
expresse belief that the next appeal
gill be- crowned with successful con.
summation
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-14
u. - POLLARD BACH
FROM FATHERS FUNERAL

D. q. Pollard. superintendent Of
the County Farm. returned yesterday
from Lillian. Johnson County. where
he was called during the last illness
OF his father. d. T. Pollard. whose
death occurred Monday. December
Q. The funeral occurred Tuesday az
ternoon.
The elder Pollard was rs years Of
age. and had been a resident OF John
son County for thirty years. lie was
man OF sterling character and was
widely known and esteemed Mrs.
Pollard died year ago. after a
happy married life OF 81 years.
Five children survive. d. o. aud
Wiley Pollard Of Amarillo. W. s. and
~ =. Pollard and Mr. Dave Julius OF
Lillian
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-14
Mortuary

ALLEN-Walter y. Allen. Jr.. the
five-year-old son OF MIR. and Mrs
Walter n. Allen died at O'Clock last
night at the family residence, 7Ol
Tyler street. after an illness Of a
week with infantilo paralysis
Funeral services will be conducted
by Rev Il +. Jenkins, pastor OF the
First Baptist church. at the family
residence al $3.50 o'clock. interment
following IN Llano cemetery.
Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-14
Personals

X 4 Sowder. a prominent at
torney OF Lubbock. was here yes
terday.
Judge G. Is Reeder left last nigh:
for New Orleans on matters before
the Circuit Court OF Appeals.
Hon. ]. G. Hunt was In the city
last night from Canyon