davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

of the Indians presence would avail nothing that night. The information could wait till the morning.
 What shall We do?' asked Henry and Susan, Like me. they knew that a lurking, sneaking Indian, meant no good to the white settler. We felt that this especial spy was there to make a survey of matters. and that before another night he would have joined his tribe and handed in his re- port, which would be something like this: White brave away. Two little braves and two squaws at home. River very 'deep-they can't cross. for there is no canoe. No wagon to carry them to other white men far down. the river. And then we would have a visit from about half a dozen of the red devils, and what would be left of us would not be sufficient to send to our friends as little souvenirs. So 1t be- hooved us youngsters to find a way of getting away before the following night. We felt quite sure that the Indians would not show themselves while 1t was day. They preferred sweeping down upon us when we were sleeping and unprepared to fight In self-defense.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

z9 gHEN their Uncle John came "A to pay them a visit the ZANE Peters children were happy. W Uncle Johnny has so many really true stories to tell us," said' Frank Peters, twelve years old.
 "Yes, and they are more exciting than fiction," observed Marie Peters, fourteen.
 Some of 'em are Indian stories which I love best" put in nine-year- old Jack, the Peters baby"
 As soon as supper was over, Uncle John found himself seated in circle composed of three persons, Frank Marie and baby Jack. Gut after his sixth birthday, Jack had refused to be a baby, although his mother always alluded to him - behind his back-as "baby)".
 What shall 1t be tonight?" asked Uncle John, fond of his three little kin-folks, and always eager to please them.
 An Indian story" said Jack. his eyes beginning to bulge in anticipa- ton of something exciting"
 Well, 1. tnlnk nave one story you have never heard. It is true, and of a happening in my early boyhood days. Have I ever told you about the time l built raft?"
 "No, Uncle John!" cried all three.
 Then here goes. It was when I was about sixteen-maybe a leetle over that age and maybe leetle un- der, but thereabouts. Wo were living on the frontier. The Indians were pretty thick about us in those days that is, to the west of us. In de- scribing us geographically you would have said, 'On the North, by unsettled prairies; on the East, by large river, which flowed between us and civiliza- tion on the South, vast -unbroken prairie land, and on the West, h. 'dians. Now, our western and eastern boundaries have to do with this story-the river and the Injuns.
 Well, we had been on the new land about afyear when the thing l am about to'relate happened. Father had gonet to town-ten miles away to trade load of corn for some sugar, coffee, salt and other needed things. Brother Henry-your dad dy-and 1 looked after the farm work during our fathers absence. Mother and sister Susan did their usual work, making butter, raising chickens, bak- ing. sewing and thousand other du- ties which fell to the lot of the early
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

remained in the kitchen, holding the said about lending to people?" she asked confusedly.
 "Oh. did he say anything?" asked Johnson, pretending not to remem- Der. Well, he says so much-I mean so little-that it's of no consequence. mothers cake will be spoilt in the making. I'm cook, and know" And Johnson, laughing, opened the door and sent Edith on her way.
 That afternoon something unusual happened. While Johnson was work ing in his hot beds in the garden Mr. Ferguson returned home in a state of sudden indisposition. He had some thing like acute indigestion, and hur- riedly sought his bed, ringing and ringing his bel, for Johnson to come to him. But Johnson. a bit hard of hearing, was too busy. fixing a let tuce bed, spading. digging and plant ing, to think of listening for the house bell.
 1t happened that Edith ran across to the Ferguson house about ten min utes after MT. Ferguson's return. She carried large piece of the cake her mother had baked that day. for her mother had told her to take 1t to That dear, good old Johnson for his supper" Also she took cup O. sugar in payment sfor the cup she had borrowed that morning. She stood tapping at the kitchen door, Then she heard the quick, strong peals of the electric bell in MT. Fer guson's room. She wondered if poor Johnson had been taken suddenly i'll he had complained of headache that morning-and that he was now in bed and ringing for her to come l to him. She opened the door and hurriedly placed sugar and cake on the table. Then she ran upstairs to the sound of the wildly-ringing bell. She entered MT. Ferguson's room, for she was led there by sounds of the bell. There, rolling about all doubled up with pain, on his luxurious bed lay "Old Ferguson" He did not see Edith. He heard some one enter and supposed it to be Johnson. "'Phone at once for Dr. Smith. And tell him I'm in bad way. Quick = and ask no questions"
 Edith understood. but said net a word. Shs ran down stairs to the hall where sne had seen the telephone. She quickly found Dr. Smiths num- Der in the directory and had his office boy talking. Dr. Smith was out on an urgent call and would not be back for an hour or so, but would be sent to MT. Ferguson as soon as he did re- turn to his office.
 Edith did not know that Johnson was down in the kitchen garden, be- hind the stables and hedge. She aup- posed he had gone out on some house. hold errand ard would soon be back. But in the meantime, she could not let the sick man remain alone. She | hurried home and told her mother. and Mrs. Lincoln. laden with medi- cines and hot water bag. ran to MT. Fergusons side. Edith. carrying the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

and they were surprised to see us, all were made most welcome. and MT, Jackson lost no time in riding about the neighborffood, telling the neigh. bors of the nearness of the Indians But he had little fear that the red men would attemptito cross the river And he was right.
 "The next morning Henry and I sci out afoot to meet father, for we knew he would start. homeward that day. the clouds clearing away and the sun coming out. We met him half way to town and got intb' the wagon With him and told him the story of pur adventure on the raft. He was much excited oyer it.. and, praised us for building the raft. We went to the Jacksons, and from there Father, MT. Jackson and went to our home. We crossed on my raft. which had re- mained secure where had tied it up. Tho waters were still high, aD1 we could not go home for several days, and remained with the JacXsons. But during our hours visit at home we found the Indians had rajded tha place and carried away what they could find. We were astonished that they had not burned the place. The cows had been driven awny, and of course furnished their tribe with beef But otherwise, nothing of much con- sequence had happened. Henry's hid den provisions had not been found, much to our relief"
 Uncle John paused and smiled. And that is my raft story" he ad- lN1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

Johnson liked the ''man of the family fully as much as he liked the "go1den- haired princess" as he called Edith. He had only chatted across the fence with Mrs. Lincoln, Edith's and Jimmy's. mother, but thought her the loveliest woman he had ever met. And the "baby" -.e had yet to meet, for the little chap had not been very well, so they had left him with his aunt Helen till he should be entirely recovered, fearing to move him into strange house lest he become more i'll.
 One day-just a week after the Lincolns had moved into their new home-Johnson was securing the kitchen ware when a tap came on the outside door. At the same moment the door leading into the kitchen from the hall opened and in came MT. Ferguson, his face sour. Johnson had opened the outside door and there stood Edith, cup in her hand. And just as MT. Ferguson entered the kitchen from one door, she entered from anothef. Before seeing the mas ter of the place. Edith had smiled gaily and said to Johnson: Please. MT. Johnson. Mother wants to know if you will be so good as to len,. her cup O. sugar. We have been so busy getting fixed up that we neg lected to notice that we were almost out of sugar till Mother began stirr- ing up s- cake. And SO" Then it was that Edith beho the stern. sour man staring at her question: ingl;-.
 "Ah. Mir. Ferguson. this is our neigh--I mean the little girl who has moved next door," said Johnson in a confused way. But "Old Ferguson stood staring at the little girl with out even holding his head. Edith. not having had any experience with unfriendly neighbors. bowed cordially to the master of the house and said in her usual pretty way:3 Good morning, MT. Ferguson. I am your new neighbor. I am very glad to meet you" s
 ''Ah, have no neighbors." said Mir. Ferguson crabbily. drowning. Then he turned to Johnson. You know my ideas about lending to peo- pie. And I must say" But some thing in the Questioning, wondering face of the little visitor caused him to go no further. and with few cr- ders to Johnson regarding dinner, he turned and left the room. Johnson red as a blaze, and on the point o1 saying very strong things about "mean, ill-disposed masters" took Edith's cup and went to the pantry and filled it with sugar. As he gave it to Edith he said: "Never mind my little golden haired princess. about the looks of MT. Ferguson. You know the old saying that even Satan is not as black as he's painted. And Mir. Ferguson has pretty sour counte- nance. but really is honest and pays his bills regularly. He is hard ir ways--but. as I said. honest" Poor Johnson was trying to excuse as best he could his masters ugly conduct Edith only misunderstood, but she
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

slabs, and these figured in my idea. l would build raft of them, a raft large enough to carry us all across the river. The current would be strong and difficult to breast, but Henry and I could pole and paddle the raft over.
 T told my idea to Henry and Sue, and they fell in with it. But I had to begin work that very night, as 1t would be too much of an undertaking TO accomplish in one day. So wait ed till about nine o'clock, when I felt quite sure that our red spy had long ago departed, and I went out to sort over my logs. It was still raining heavily, but that did not deter me. I was strong and used to all sorts of hardships and exposure.
 T got my split logs selected and laid side by side at the very edge of the water. Then I proceeded to tie them securely together with long ropes which were used during grazing time as lariats for the cows.
 This done, I went to the stable and worked till almost midnight whittling out long strong wooden pins to be used in holding the logs to- gether. Then I went to bed. By day. break was at my raft-building again. While Henry did the chores I took an auger to the raft and bored holes in the logs, then I drove in my long wooden pins. thus joining the logs to- gether.
 Well, I worked hard all that day. Henry lent me a helping hand every spare moment he had, and towards noon we told mother of the Inuians visit the night before, and she began getting together what things she could carry on the raft. Sister Sue helped her, and Henry worked at hiding provisions beneath the floor of the house. We knew the Indians would ransacls the place, and we wanted the flour, bacon, potatoes and other provisions safely hidden away from them. So Henry buried these things foot below the surface of the earth under the floor, and laid the fioor-boards back into place, mailing them down. Not sign of this work was visible, which was proved later.
 Tt was about four o'clock when the raft was at last completed. It was a,a odu SlSllt lO Stt uS-MOllGT III lfl6 lead-marching down the slippery bank to the raft which Henry and I had pushed upon the water, and which was tied to a tree on the bank. We were laden with bundles which we piled upon the raft.
 Then came the real tug. Henry and I worked like real galley slaves getting that raft to the opposite bank. The high water was full of drift wood, and several times we had close call; but succeeded after an hours hard work in getting to safety. Mother sat with a brave face through 1t all, and once when a whirling log collided with us. and sister Sue screamed, she only took hold of her and said calmly: Never fear. daugh- ter. We would better brave these small dangers than the Indians
 Well, we reached the Jacksons.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

s,a asked, you living in this town and don't know all about MT. Ferguson? Why, he's never been married. He's quite an old man, and set in his ways. He wouldn't care for children"
 "Oh, so you and MT. Ferguson live alone" And sympathy came into the little girls face. Isn't that too bad? But, we'll be good neighbors, Mamma, brother Jimmy and l, and of course. the baby You see. we have baby three years old. Some folks says he's too old to be a baby. but Mamma. Jimmy and l don't think so. We love to think of him as baSy still. He is very cunning. l shail bring him over to see you as soon as we get set tied. Just now he's with Aunt Helen on the other side of town
 Before Johnson could speak. he was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

- Ew children stop to think about
 the loneliness of the sick room
 But after one has had siege of lying In bed for week or two. ie is then prepared to sympathize with his little friends who are unfor- .unate enough to be i'll and confined to he bed.
 Let a child be kept indoors-and worse than that, in bed--for day md he is almost peevish. Another lay and he is almost hopeless. But lee the bright outlook come into the Hing little ones eyes when Mother Iently announces, Jack and Sally sray are calling, dear, and have bouquet and a dainty basket for you." And so it Is with all sick folks, particularly the sick little ones. They must have company and diversion. So ct all children bear this fact in mind, md make a point of going as often as possible to see sick friend. Of course here arc cases of contagious disease phen no other child Is allowed to visit hc sufferer. But in such cases the Afflicted child is usually too i'll to
  lnd then the danger of contagion Is lemoved. When paying a visit to a sick friend, always time your call at convenient hour, when the doctor or he mother finds it agreeable to the patient. There are times when sleep IT absolute rest Is required. Make inquiry and act accordingly. If on lalling you find another friend visit ng the patient, withdraw till another lme, for too many persons chatting sick room at one time is liable b excite the patient. One should talk ,nly on simple and cheerful topics, icing careful not to draw the sick hild too much into the conversa- ion. Let him or her listen. If the aller has a good story, let 1t be told. hearty laugh Is better for sick ,erson than medicine. It makes ore orget illness, and brings cheery hings to mind.
 If you intend carrying dainties to he sick friend. be sure to, ask the mother or the nurse in advance as to what the patient may eat, and then tou will not make the mistake of talk ng the wrong kinds of food. If a ihild De suffering from a broken arm IT leg, or a sbrain. or any such acci- lent. he may eat most any palatable fish, fruit included. So one will be afe is'' taking to him basket of nixed fruits. Delicate preserves and ellies are also nice to take to a sick Ihild. Flowers are always welcome the sick. Nothing more pleasing han a lovely. fragrant bouquet on a able close to the sick ones pillow. It ,leases both sight and smell. Some imes the patient is not too i'll to fol- pw the reading of good book, and lnjoys it very much. If you are a rood reader, and know your sick
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

made Jimmy's acquaintance and had a chat with him across the back fence. And Jimmy told him that he Jimmy-was now lhe man of the family" his father having died the year before. Tt keeps me hustling," laughed Jimmy. 'to help Mother with the livelihood. You see, we have only a small income from piece of prop erty Father left us, an income only half-sufficient to meet our expenses. So l had to quit school year before finishing, to go to work in MT. Browns newspaper office. But l don't mind that, for l am studying at home of nights. and Mother-who used to be school teacher--is help ing me. And Mother. you know, has several private classes in history
 which helps to keep the pot boiling"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

But at high water time these sim pie crossings - lords were often washed out by the heavy waters. And now, the rain coming down so stead fly. caused us some anxiety on fla ther's account. We felt afraid that in his anxiety to reach home he might attempt to ford the river and be car- ried away.
 But mother declared that father would not act so unwisely. Still, she feared ho would set out from town, homeward bound, and find the roads impossible at some point on the prairie where shelter andy friendly face would not be near at hand. So we had cur several worries. And more than that came to disturb our peace of mind. On the evening of the sec ond day ] was driving the cows down
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

friends taste in literature (which should not be heavy when one is ill) you can do nothing more delightful than to read aloud for half an hour to~him. But reading soon becomes monotonous in the sick room, and should never be too long indulged in. 1t Is your object to refresh and divert the mind of your friend, and not to tire him. So in closing I shall say, when reading aloud to a sick child, be- ware! Watch his expression, and stop the minute you see a look of tiredness come into his eyes. Indeed, you should not let 1t go that far.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

settlers women-folks.
 But on the day that father started to o.town Mother took sick. She had very bad attack of chill and fever. Sister Susan waited on her like trained nurse. Brother Henry had to assist with the house work as there was too much for Sister Sue to do alone. That left the farm work for me. Father would not be home for q couple of days. as he went to town with an OK team-slow travellersi
 "The night of the day on which father went to town heavy rain set in, one of those steady down-pours such as only the pioneers of the West know about. All the following day it poured from a heavy sky. The night fell, and the rain continued to do the same. On the second day af-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
X Our Puzzle Corner A4b 4b

My first is a game
 All boys love to playi
 They enjoy 1t most
 On a fine spring day.
 My second Is worn
 Round the neck, you know; '1'is usually bright-hued
 And worn for show.
 My third/is the name
 Of a poet, fine,
 Who lived in a land
 Far cross the brine.
 My three joined together Is the name of town
 That is large and interesting. And has much renoup.
 CURTAILINGs. i. Curtail name given to dishc1 and leave part of the face. 2. Curtail delicate color and leave sharp. small article. 8. Curtail bench and leave tho ocean.
 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS
 PUZZLES. LETTER ENIGMA: Summer. CURTAILINGS: 1. Cartoon-cdTt. ?. 3. ConUention-conrent. ( zTGz4G PUZZLE: Telescope. Cross- words: l. Trunk. 2. Heels. 3. Hello. 4. Fleet. 5. Nests. 6. BlocE. 2. Storm. 8. optic. g. Ea0le. HIDDEN BOY PICTURE: Hidden bon is in other boy's hair.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

And little Bo-Peep stayed fast asleer Till Dee buzzing round stung hei
 ear!
 Then up she did spring
 And cried, What a sting! I would best get away from here" So home she did go (and not very
 slowD And showed to dear Mother her ear: And dear Mother said,
 As she wrapped up her head, "A naughty bee stung you, my dear.s
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

Chat raft to the opposite bank"
 eff only we could get across the river right herein front of the house. said Susan. You see, it's only two miles lover the hills to the Jacksons, and we could easily walk that dis tance in short time. Of course, it would be hard on Mother-but, any thing is better than staying here till night falls again. That lurking In- dian meant something, and that some- thing will happen tonight unless we ward it off,
 "'Yes, we'll have to outwit the red devils, said I. Then an idea flashed through my mind. Father and I had been cutting down trees on the river bank, not three hundred yards from the house, and we had split them and dressed them on one side. We had a nice pile of split logs-we called them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

good neighbors, shan't we?" AS she spoke. the little girl came across her own back yard. and stood smiling at Johnson. Have you any children?" she added.
 "I? Oh, I'm only the man servant here" explained Johnson. You see, MT. Ferguson lives here, and l am in his employ. I've been his only serv- ant for years-more than l can re- member"
 "Oh, that's it?" ana the little girl spoke in such a friendly way. Then has MT. Ferguson any children?"
 Johnson looked surprised. What 2"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

to water when I saw dark form dart behind a clump of leafless trees. Only an Indian could 50 fiatten him self against a. slender tree trunk that casual observer would not notice him. And only an Indian would wish to hide himself from the white settler-an Indian with an evil pur- pose. aff5
 q pretended not .toshave seen the hiding savage, and drove the cows on down the bank to water. But I kept one eye open, and hurried the cows back to their shed. Then I hastily informed brother Henry and sister Susan of what I had seen, telling them to say nothing that night to Mother about the nearness of the en- emy. I knew that she needed a good nights rest, and that her knowledge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10

so shocked at thought of children daring to invade his masters hou |, a voice from the house next door cali ed out: Edith, where are you, honey? Come. help Mother to place the furniture in Jimmy's room."
 Its Mamma" explained the gol- den haired girl. Then she waited a last friendly smile to the old serving man across the fence and ran into the house.
 Several days passed by and each morning Johnson bowed to Edith across the fence. One morning Ediths mother came out on the back porch, and Johnson bowed to her. She returned the friendly salutation, and asked about the hot beds in the garden which Johnson was preparing. Then friendly. almost neighborly intercourse sprang up between John- son and the folks next door. He
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
WORD SQUARE.

WORD SQUARE. My first is a trip about the country. My second is a monster of fairy tales.
 My third Is the name of a chain of < My fourth is to depend on or to trust one.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
SHOoors 6

ter fathers departure, it was still coming down as though the very heavens had opened their reservoir. We all began to feel somewhat un- easy. Suppose father on his return should find the ford washed out. You see, a ford was made by the set tiers living along the river. They carried wagon-loads of rock-gather-- ed along the river banks-to the shallowest Ylaces in the river, in some convenient bend, and half-filled a space in the river bed, fifteen feet wide and reaching from bank to bank. Tie farmers and ranchers could drive through the river on this stone cross ing, which left about two feet of water running over it. Boys would often wade across when visiting friends on the opposite side.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
Made Over Nursery Rhyme

O TITLE Bo-Peep sat fast asleep a Beneath big tree near the sty: kA A pig. round and fat,
 Saw her as she sat, And said with a grunt: -ho-rnyin
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-10
| Whdf ChZIHpea |mgy oo/ar d@ @EFF1 |Lhez1scNck EGly 934A |Eaeoo@ SAS-T--
 .' :HkJlI

- EW children stop to think about
 - the loneliness of the sick room. ! But after one has had siege of ' lying in bed for a week or two,