davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

rooms and all l have had to do is
to carry them to the shed. Come to
the field and you shall see."
"Fairies!" And the astonished
mother threw up her hands why,
child. there are no fairies. They are
only in story books"
"Well. they left the stoi.' books
long enough to come to our mush-
room patch this morning on picnic
and they have remained long enough
TO gather all our mushrooms for US
today. Please. Mamma. come with
me and you shall See"
The mother. knowing that In some
unusual way the mushrooms had been
gathered. and carefully. too. for not
one had a damaged stem or top. went
with Susie to the patch. But the few
remaining matured mushrooms were
growing tightly to their roots. and
not one moved the breadth OF fine
hair. And In vain did Susie try to
call forth fairy.
"Oh. I know why It u.s." she said to
her still mystified mother. "the fairies
know that grown-up people do not
like fairies--do not believe In them.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
IS IS T2Ll\G [yXHS 81 IS

fiehting for tho mere fun Of II doesn't
appeal to me in the least" Then he
turned on his heel and went down
stream.
Several loud laughs followed him.
and such cries as, Coward" "Softy."
and "Tenderfoot-y!" were hurled az
ter him. He was too sensible to pay
any heed to them.
He found snug place in a curve
Of the river a quarter Of a mile be-
low. Thoughtfuily ne drove his car
as near to the spot as the road would
take It, for no feared his enemies
might do It some injury. And from
where ne sat ne could keep his eyes
on the car. For an hour or more he
fished, half browsing In the warm
June sunshine. Suddenly the wind
ceased altogether and a warning calm
fell over the world. Tho heat be-
came intense. and Burton got up and
went out from among the trees to got
a good view Of the sky. To the
northwest he saw a small black cloud.
hanging low in the heavens. A bank
of "thunderheads" lay against the
horizon, and were black with white
cappings. The still air, the thunder
heads and the one accumulated black
cloud gave Burton something to study.
He had never seen such a sky at
home but had heard about them and
knew their meaning. The black cloud
did not appear to be over ten miles
distant. and was moving rapidly
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
The Mushroom Fairies

her face and hands and combed her
hair and dressed herself. The sun
was just peeping over the hills which
ran high and wooded near to Susie's
fathers farm. Susie always loved
getting up very early and going out
to say good morning to the sun just
as he was peeping across the hill
tops.
Now. little one" said the mother.
"your porridge is all ready. and the
sweet milk is in the pitcher in the
dairy. l have eaten my breakfast and
shall go to the packing shed to sort
over yesterdays gathering before
Joining you in the patch"
Susie ran to the dairy and got the
pitcher of sweet milk. She found
the porridge hot on the back Of the
stove and filled pretty blue bowl
with 1t. Then she ate her breakfast
and washed up her plate. bowl and
spoon. after which she tip-toed softly
to her fathers room and ever &c
gently pushed the door leading into II
ajar.
But her father was asleep, so she
did not give him her usual cheering
good morning and loving kiss. She
! again closed the door, doing 1t softly
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
DURf0N cLARK's EXPERIENCE
~ ~ WITH a CYCLONE
Story OF a Young "Tcnderfoot's" Bravery.

finest seats of learning in the land.
So Burton, who would gladly have
made friends with the young chaps
of the town--loving, as he did, socia-
bility-was thrown upon his own re-
sources for entertainment. He found
that there was q fine river two miles
from town and sometimes OF mornings
he would take his automobile and ride
to its banks. where ne would spend
he would take his aunt and any young
girls she cared to invite, riding His
charm Of personality, his good looks
and neat dress soon made him a
favorite with the best girls in town.
This fact did not help his case with
the youths. They felt him to be their
rival--and a formidable one, too.
But this had a good effect. for 1t
was quite noticeable that the boys
Burton in dress--they wore white COL
lars, cuffs, and kept their shoes more
neatly polished. And they found
themselves touching their hats &C
women and girls whom they met on
the street, whereas they had formerly
only nodded indifferently and said,
| "Howdy," to passing acquaintance.
"Oh, they're catching good man.
ners and neatness In dress from our
city boy" smiled Aunt Mary.
Yes. but they hate him all the
more because of It," said Uncle Ben.
mot a single chap in town has shown
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

tip-toed away from 1t and went to the
store room and got her basket and
apron and knife. Then she tripped
happily to the mushroom patch.
AS she stopped to cut Off the UNI
brella top Of a fine, white. fat mush-
room, she saw 1t rise from the
ground; and to her wonder, 1t was
lifted several inches from the ground.
Then she beheld tiny creature be-
meath it. holding 1t like an umbrella.
Susie was startled and drew back,
crying. "Oh. what strange sight"
do not become afraid, little girl"
spoke a tiny voice. I'VE have been
having a picnic this notwithstanding
early enough to have the field to our
selves. But-something must have
happened to bring you he-e SO early.
The sun Is hardly over the hills"
"Yes. my father Ia Ill, and cannot
work today. So my mother and
have to do all the gathering and sort
Ing by ourselves. So came early
to get a good start. You see, II the
mushrooms ready for gathering are
not cut at once they will get too big
and coarse and tough. and will no,
bring so good a price,"
"Ah, yes, that Ia quite true" said
the tiny voice. Then the little crea.
ture came from beneath the mush.
room and bowed to Susie. you see
I forgot to introduce myself to you
I am Miss Dew Drop Fairy. an
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
an Outdoor Sleeping Porch

bedclothes were hurriedy carried into
the house. for sometimes the winds
carried the rain inside the porch, shell
tered though It was by roof. canvas
sides. trees and vines.
A well-trained bull dog kept watch
over the four young sleepers in the
summer bedroom. and if the least in
trusion threatened his charges he
warned them by a growl. But it was
in quiet. rural vicinity where
tramps and other undesira BILE persons
scarcely ever ventured. The children
slept all spring and summer in their
sleeping porch without being once dis
turbed by outsiders. Several times
storms drove them indoors, bu. they
anticipated this when they built their
porch.
The result Of their experiment was
entirely satisfactory and this summer
the parents are going to extend the
porch a few feet each way so as TO
make room for themselves. They dis
covered that fresh air in plenty was
the most desirable thing when Sleep
ing.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

else on earth. One had all but swept
the town out of existence the sum-
mer before, and many persons had
been killed.
Jack Little took in the whole sky
at glance, turned and called to his
companions: Fer Gods sake, boys,
hustle. It's a sure enough twister,
and coming our way"
Another ten seconds found the four
boys assembled on the bank, their
faces white with fear. Burton was
going towards his car when their
helplessness came to his mind. He
turned round. will you ride to
safety with me? II so, don't stop
to think 1t over but come on the rum"
Then he went as fast as he could to
tho car. jumped in and prepared It
for starting. He heard four distinct
voices calling after him: walt
we'll ride with you!"
And the way that touring car tore
over the road was enough to make
the four passengers In it open their
eyes and mouths in wonder. Once
! Sam Little bent forward and touched
Burton on the shoulder. Turn in at
clone cave there"
Burton did as advised. and within a
few minutes the car was standing
beside a stone stable and its occu-
pants had found shelter in the cy-
cIone cave back Of the farm house.
The farmer and his family had al
ready assembled there.
And then the cyclone struck IN al,
A. III
roof of the cave and threatened to
break through. The roaring was
deafening and no one tried to sneak
nan an hour later. all was as calm
as though there had been no storm.
and the persons all came from the
| cave.
The house had been torn from its
! Ioundatlon. but not badly damaged.
me stone barn was badly wrecked.
but the wall by which the automo-
bile stood was unhurt. The motor
car itself was drenched, but not in
Jured beyond repairing. But the boys
would have to walk to town. for the
gasoline was filled with water. and
the car could not be taken to town
that day.
AS the five boys started townwards
| tHey IoOKed towards the river where
they had been fishing and not a tree
remained on its banks for the distance
of mile. 1T would have got us.
sure. if it hadn't been for him." II
was Sam Little who said this. and
he pointed towards Burton who was
taking the lead down the drenched
road.
Say, I'm in for being friendly with
a Teller that saved our lives" said
Jack mo use being mean about
it,"
And then Burton found himself sur
rounded by the four boys, each too
much embarrassed to speak his mind
but each showing in his own way
that he was ashamed of his past con-
duct and wished to be friends with
the "city-fied tenderfoot" who had
been both brave ana splendid.
And from that day marked the lion
izing of Burton by the boys in Plair
City, and each wed with the other
to take him to fine swimming holes
and fishing ponds. and his vacation
went along more pleasantly.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

~HE half-grown children of a fam
lily decided they wished to sleep
- out of doors during the spring
and summer. AS the house had but
two porches, one across the front and
another across the back, the children
could not take possession Of either as
a sleeping porch. for the front one led
to the living-room and dining room.
and the kitchen and Mushroom
opened upon the back one. So the
oldest son hit upon happy plan. Be
ing something of a carpenter. he de-
cided to build their own sleeping
porch. He got some lumber and set
to work. his two brothers and two sis
tiers lending their assistance. He put
up a strong framework OF undressed
timber and rooted it with shingles. a
floor Of loose boards was laid on
joists which were supported by fiat
stones. The floor was raised about
ten inches from the ground. This was
to insure safety from dampness.
Round the sides of the framework
and beginning under the caves
which were overhanging to the width
of two feet-strong tenting canvas
was tackled. The canvas was left In
sections with round poles tackled at
the bottom, so that the curtains
might be rolled up during still, sultry
nights or dropped down and tied Sc
curely to the studding when weather
demanded such security.
The sleeping porch was built with
in a few steps Of the back porch OF
the house and of nights the children
could prepare for bed indoors and run
to their sleeping porch with the great
est privacy, trees and vines closing In
that part Of the grounds from the view
of chance passers-by.
A curtain divided tho porch into
two apartments, one for the brothers
and one for the sisters. Wire cots
served az beds with cool cotton mat
tresses on them. A lantern was hung
from the ceiling to give light on nights
when the outside curtains were drawn
and no moonlight could enter. OF
course, during severe storms the
porch was abandoned. and the chill
dren slept indoors. At such times the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
LETTER ENIGMA.
I, but not in gig:

My first is in cart, but not in gig:
My second is in hog. but not In pig:
My third is in pop, but not In burst:
My fourth is just the same as my first:
My fifth Is also the Same as my three:
My sixth Is in Oolong, but not in tea:
My seventh Is In ant, but not In hill:
My eighth Is in water, but not in spill:
My ninth Is in skate. but not In rink:
Ny whole Is in something we both eat
and drink.
NUMERICAL ENIGMA.
am composed of twelve letters
My /, 8, s. 6. II, 8, spell the name Of
one who makes his living by means Of
sharp blades My 6. 8. s. 7. spell
the name of one who prepares the
staff of life. My 2. 3, 6. II. ~ spell
bodies Of water. My !. 8, Q. s spell
something we find on every tree. My
8. 10, s spell something we could not
live without. My 8. 10, 6, IL spell
bones in our bodies. My a. 3. i spells
. vehicle. My whole is small fruit.
ZIGZAG.
This zigzaA contains seven words Of
four letters each. II the words are
rightly guessed and written one below
another their zigzag letters. beginning
with the upper left hand letter and
ending with the lower left-hand letter,
will spell a cloth used as drapery.
The cross words are. !. small We
bicle. 2. To scald. 3. A hunting pre-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

q rSIE'S home was in the coun-
try. Her father was a grower Of
~ mushrooms and often when
y there was good crop Susie
was obliged to assist her father and
mother gathering it for the city mar
ket. The mushrooms were cut and
piled into baskets and carried to a
shed where boxes were waiting for
packing.
Susie did not mind assisting her
parents with the work, for she was
a helpful little girl and industrious.
She would take her basket and go to
the place where the mushrooms grew
in soft. rich, damp soil and gather
as many as the basket would hold
before she stopped. Then she would
carry the basket to the packing shed,
empty 1t upon long table-where
the mushrooms were sorted over
and return to the field for more.
One morning Susie's mother came
70 her bed and called her. Come
little one, we shall have to do all the
gathering today for your father is
III. He Will not be able to leave his
bed today. Come. get up. dear. anc
dress as quickly as you car"
Susie jumped from bed and bathe6
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

NUR mother tells US stories at
~ When the room is gloomy outside
the lamplight:
When in the corners great shadows
fall
And look like spectres against the wall.
We huddle about dear Mothers
Peggy. Polly, Billy and me-
And she has a story for each to tell,
About strange things of mountain and
dell
The story called Peggy's Is all about
Rip Van Wrinkle, a worthless lout!
Who up on a cold. high mountain top
Slept twenty years without making a
stop.
And ne snored so loudly he fright
ened away
All the beasts that up on that mount
did stay:
Even spooks and COLLINS did fear old
Rip
And from their mountain homes did
The story called Polly's is very queer;
IT'S Of Cinderella, poor little dear.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

one Of whole forest of Fairies. We
have been picnicking under your
mushrooms. We like the change from
the trees and thick vines Here are
some of my friends"
As the little fairy said this, she
waved her hands about over an acre
Of mushrooms. and the mushrooms
began to move about. "Oh," cried
Susie, you are destroying my mush-
rooms! You are running them by
making them loose from the ground"
mot at all. my dear little one
smiled the bit OF a fairy. when We
are done playing among them. we
shall set them into their places again
and they will grow the same as ever
We--the Fairies-never modest any
thing. And-if you are pressed hard
, today with work. why shan't we help
you? We can each gather ono mush
room, and as there are thousands
Of US. we will have your basket filled
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

were two brothers-Sam and Jack
Little. From the time they set eyes
on him, riding through town in his
motor car. they thoroughly disliked
him. And as they were the leaders
OF the boys in Plain City. they organ
ised a sort Of band to boycott Bur-
ton In social way. Some of the
boys--whose sisters liked Burton-be-
gan to try to break away from this
band. but were threatened by Sam
and Jack.
One morning Burton went fishing.
When he got out of his auto and
dropped down the river bank to his
usual fishing place, he saw the seat
he had improvised was occupied. Two
boys sat on 1t. holding their fishing
rods over the stream, Two other
boys sat on the bank beside them.
AS Burton came down the bank be-
hind them, they all looked UP at him.
Burton nodded to them, passing the
time Of day. Not ono Of the group
returned his salutation. All scowled.
particularly the two occupying Bur
tons fishing seat. They were Sam
and Jack Little.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

And Of a glass slipper. tiny and
sweet
And prince who found she had little
feet.
And Billys story Is awfully good
OF little maid named Red-Riding-
Hood;
And a wolf that passed himself a. her
friend
And acted SO wickedly at the end.
My story I'd love to tell II could,
It's about two lost little babes in the
wood.
I always cry when my story bear.
Till Mamma smiles and says. MY
These stories are only stories. you
know:
They're just make-believe and never
are true"
Then I dry my eyes. and smile also,
And Mother says, of to bed you Co."
So, the stories over. we toddle away
And Jump into bed and sleep till tie
day:
And sometimes we dream Of our
stories, you sec
Peggy. Polly. Billy and me.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

southwark. Burton decided It wise
to 60 to his car, so he gathered up
his fishing tackle and got ready to
start to town. The black cloud sud
denly made dip. a flash of binding
lightning glared in it, then a clap
of deafening thunder seemed to shake
the ground. Burton noticed that a
funnel-shaped spout dropped from the
black cloud to the earth, and that II
twisted and moved rapidly back and
forth.
"a cyclone. II I know anything"
said Burton as he Jumped in his car
and headed towards town. Then he
remembered the boys fishing at his
old place--his enemies He rode as
close to them as he could, leaped from
the car and ran to the bank abore
them.
Il don't wish to intrude on you,
but if you're not careful youll make
the acquaintance of a cyclone" he
called down to them. one of the Lit
tie boys got up quickly and ran up
the bank. All that part of the world
feared a cyclone more than anything
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

so they won't show themselves to I'M
believers. That's It,"
Maybe so. maybe So" agreed the
good mother. still mystifed. AT any
rate. the mushrooms got gathered
without your labor or mine. and It is
all past my understanding. Come,
we'll 60 and tell your father about
It. He 10 sitting up, eating a bit Of
lunch. for he Is feeling better since
the day has advanced"
But Susie caught her mothers hand.
please. Mamma. say nothing of this
to any one. for should we talk about
the dear little fairies to too many
who do not believe In them. :: might
chase them far. far away. ana they'd
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01


many times--1ust as fast as you can
carry 1t to the shed and back again.
Shall we assist you. little one?"
"Oh, wouldn't that be spiendid?"
cried Susie. And 1t will help dear
Mamma so much. She has all the
sorting to do. besides running into
the house to look after Papa every
once in a while. Oh. Mamma will not
have to come to the patch at all to-
day! That will be splendid"
So the fairies began to rise all over
the neld. and each came with one
mushroom, carrying It like an UNI
brelia. And the basket was filled be-
fore you could count five. and thou
sands waiting for some place to put
their mushrooms.
Susie ran to the packing shed with
the heaped up basket and poured its
oontents upon the sorting table. Her
mother was not In the shed. having
gone to the house to see II her hus-
band wanted anything. So Susie wa
haok IN tho neld again without having
told her mother about the fairies.
And 20 another basket was hlied,
ana again Susie ran with It to the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
/N&,o
k A1 GsLEJBoys. build
%%?NfHF % SYs{s

n GREAT many boys love rowing
~ better than ball-playing or other
weather sports. And there
Is no better exercise than rowing on a
heavy stream or in a bay or deep
lake. Most boys have access to some
large body Of water. where row.
boats abound. But the boy who is a
genuine boatman loves to build his
own boat. He knows and loves every
bit Of timber in the boat he has
himself made.
Now. ow-boat building is not q
with the aid Of a guide book to
boat building can build medium
size boat in very short while.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01

n OIL INC nOtel-keepeT VI itsiu
AM, City, came automobiling into
y" the town, the inhabitants
thought him "city-fed tenderfoot,"
70 use the name applied to him by
Ill who saw him.
He thinks he'll show of before us
Western yahoos." observed one old
man, watching the young fellow as he
9rew up In front Of the "City Hotel"
Guess he thinks we don't know any
thing about them gasoline wagons.
WAL. we do. an whole lot about
young city dudes to boot"
But Burton did not hear these re-
marks about himself. He jumped
from the car and ran nimbly up the
Dteps. A plump woman met him at
the door. "Well, here you are-at the
very hour you said you'd arrive she
cried, taking Buttons hands cordially
and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Yes, I'm here on scheduled time,
Aunt Mary. Where's Uncle Benz"
"Well. he had no idea you'd get
herein the machine" confded Aunt
Mary. He thought you'd break down
or something, and come In tomorrow
on the train. But--here he is now"
Then the "city-f1ed tenderfoot.'
whose arrival had been expected by
the townspeople, they having heard
from his uncle that ne was making
the journey across three States In q
great touring car. was lost to the view
Of the few loafing citizens who had
Assem- bled that morning to watch
through the day for him.
Plain City was a little town located
on a high prairie in the West. and was
not on the map, having been built
up since the last census. 1t did not
boast a single automobile. or gas
oline wagon" as the citizens called it
The people were Of that class OF ru.
rails who frown upon strangers. and
particularly did they give a wide
berth to "city-f fed" folks.
Burton had not been in the towr
long before ne found that he did moi
promise to become a social favorite
AS he walked down the one shor
business street he was looked al
savagely by the youths Of the town
and as he passed them by. he coult
overhear insulting remarks intended
for his ears. But he paid no atten
ton to those showing antagonism FOL
him. His uncle, western man b!
adoption, and his aunt. a good woman
born West Of the Missouri River
felt much hurt over the reception Of
their city boy.
"Why, don't they know he's a col
lege boy?" Aunt Mary would say. in
dignantly. And won't he graduate
in two years? And hasn't he got thu
incest disposition and manners in thu
world? Those young town Teller
would better try To learn from him
That's my honest opinion"
But the young town fellows" die
not want to learn from him. and the.
cared little whether or not he wa
a college boy-and member Of
football team, or that he would grad
uate in two years from one of tn,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-01
careful you'll make the cyclone he called

any willingness to become acquainted
with Burt. And he's a credit to any
of en-
But Burton did not let these things
interfere with his enjoyment of his
visit and vacation in the little western
town. His uncle and aunt were such
good pals, and several perfectly
lovely young girls had been most hap
py to escort him to Sunday school
and church. and to have their moth
ers invite him over on Sunday even
ings Burton had two sisters near
his own age at home. so was fond of
girls society.
Among those so hostile TO Burton